Some Financial Basics

If you’ve done your review of your 2007 spending, here are some items that you should see in the year’s finances.  (All of these assume you’re still in the work force.)
 
-         You saved at least 10% of what you made.
-         You have at least 10% of your pre-tax, pre-deductions annual earnings in savings. 
-         You’ve [...]

In With the New

Finishing up this year well from a financial responsibility standpoint will help get the New Year started right.  So the next few postings will help position folks for that transition. 

-         Know where you’ve been.  Look at what you spent and what you spent it on in 2007.  If you use an off the shelf [...]

Keeping Up

Financial competition can be a slippery slope.  Trying to get the newest, fastest, most expensive of everything that your friends and neighbors have is a no win game.  Rather than looking to others for hints on what you spend money on, let your income, conscience, and common sense be your guide.  Spend less than you [...]

Year End Tips – The Sequel

Cutting Spending During the Holidays
You’ve already bought gifts for everyone and now spending through the end of the year looks like the national debt.  What can you do to cut back spending until your first 2008 paycheck?
-  Eat from the pantry and the freezer.  Granted you might want to get a Holiday Ham (or Tofurkey if [...]

Year End Tips

We’ll finish up the year with a few tips over the next week and a half with some ideas to help you get through the year working on your financial well being.
“In Kind” Charity Donations
Clean out your closet and take what you’re not using/wearing/playing with to a non-profit thrift store.  I don’t mean a consignment [...]

Naughty or Nice

In flipping channels the other night I saw an entertainment show report that they’d surveyed some children to find out who would top Santa’s list of Naughty Folks.  Britney Spears and Paris Hilton were at the top.  Everyone makes mistakes and a trusted mentor once said to me, “Feel free to learn from the mistakes [...]

Holiday Financial Compromises

The spirit of giving during the holidays can sometimes get out of control and have you giving more than you can afford.  There are some shopping and giving strategies that can maximize your generosity without overdoing it financially.

1 – Make a list of everyone you want to give to, the maximum you’d like to spend [...]

Holiday Financial Lessons for Kids

Too often the holidays are the time of year when any hope of financial discipline flies out the window.  You can change that and actually turn it into a teaching opportunity for you and your kids.  Here are a few tips.

Don’t let the kids expect to get everything they want.  Let them make a list [...]