Budget Planning and Tips

A family's finances dropping from two to one income can be a tough transition to manage. Splurging on luxuries and treats is a tough habit to break, but each year thousands of families find themselves having to do just that....
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Returning to work after having a baby is inevitable for most parents. However, childcare costs are hefty and substantially eat into a family's income. The average cost of a child, aged four years or younger, attending...
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Most of us know we should save more money than we’re currently saving ... but that’s easier said than done. If you feel like you’re scrounging for change and can’t figure out how to possibly save...
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Do you hate keeping track of which bills are due when? Do you find yourself reaching the end of the month and wondersing where all your money went? Do you want to save more, but you never seem to have enough left...
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It's that time of year again. Stores are running festive commercials, your local coffee shop is offering gingerbread lattes, and you're beginning to worry about how you're going to afford another round of "the most wonderful...
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Your adult son or daughter is having cash flow trouble and they are having a hard time getting refinancing or credit on their own right now. After some discussion and much thought, as parents trying to help out, you offer...
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Close your eyes and visualize your dream vacation or the shiny new car that you've always dreamed of having. Sure, looks great! Unfortunately, for many of us the planning stops right there. With a little planning and...
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Every spousal financial relationship is unique. Through the years, couples develop their own systems for handling financial matters. Sometimes it is one partner's responsibility to manage all finances, sometimes the other's...
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If you are trying to increase savings, remember that savings are directly tied to spending - the less you spend, the more you have to save. Some tips to consider to help get your spending under control include: Analyze...
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Even though all indications are that the economy is recovering, that doesn't necessarily mean that a large raise is on the near-term horizon for you. Your best bet for the near term is to make your current salary stretch...
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My colleague Dr. Dan Elash preaches: "If you want to change any habit, change the actions that produce the habit. More folks start self-improvement programs to change personal habits at the beginning of year than at any...
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In an essay on risk, Nobel Laureate Kenneth Arrow asks us to consider the difference between gambling versus regularly paying premiums to an insurance company. The mathematical probabilities indicate that we will lose money...
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When lenders evaluate a credit application, they usually request both your credit report and your credit score, which is a mathematical calculation based on information on your credit report. The score is intended to rate...
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