Fool Me Once, Shame on You. Fool Me Twice, Shame on Me

Written by on September 29, 2011 · 24 Comments
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This past March I loaned money to a fellow single mom friend who was in financial crisis: She and her son were about to be evicted from their apartment. Anyone that knows me relatively well knows that I would do whatever I could for someone in need; a Good Samaritan. I learned this behavior from my father; when I was little he would help stranded roadside motorists and offer his services (he was a mechanic) for “free” or “in trade” for those who couldn’t afford it. While this type of behavior certainly didn’t make him rich financially, I truly believe [...] Read more »

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Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University Week 2

Written by on September 28, 2011 · 16 Comments
dr family

This week at Financial Peace University was called "relating to money". I really liked this lesson a lot. Dave talked about getting on the same page with your spouse financially. I was taking notes so that I could write this review and I have a page and a half of scribbles. One note I wrote says "If you agree on spending you agree on values. You will feel like a team, which means a happy marriage. You must work together." I wanted to stand up and yell in the class "YES!! Are you guys listening to this!! Write that down!" Read more »

Three Keys to Financial Fitness

Written by on September 27, 2011 · 3 Comments
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I was planning on writing about a new survey from Prudential Retirement Services today. It is a very interesting survey from 2006-2011 of primary or joint financial decision makers who are between 45-75, have a household income of at least $100,000 ($50,000 if already retired), household investable assets of at least $100,000, and retirement savings of at least $100,000. Many who fall in this “retirement red zone” have serious concerns about their ability to maintain lifestyle in retirement. For those of you who would like to read the study, here’s a link to the Prudential website: http://news.prudential.com/images/20026/2011ChangingAttitudesAboutRetIncome.pdf It is worth [...] Read more »

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Paper or Plastic: Taking a Family Vacation without Credit Cards

Written by on September 24, 2011 · 12 Comments
cash baby

If you are like most American families, with the stagnant recession, escalating gas prices, and unstable job market, you’ve chosen to forgo vacations for in-home activities. Believe it or not, there is a way to stick to a no-credit card spending mentality, and still provide a wonderful family vacation to your family. Because booking hotel, airplane, and car rentals often request a credit card as payment, it takes a little more creativity to make a family vacation possible with using plastic. Sometimes, it might involve using family and friends who still use credit cards. Do not hesitate to give close [...] Read more »

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Debt Free News #21 – Congratulations Amy

Written by on September 23, 2011 · 2 Comments
Debt Free News 21

The Enemy of Debt Questionnaire – Congratulations Amy! How much debt did you have and how long did it take you to pay it off? I took a 401(k) loan in 1997 of $8,000 for a down payment on my condo. My mortgage was $34,800 for 15 years. I paid off the mortgage in 2005. I paid off the 401(k) loan in 2001. I bought a new SUV in 2006; did a dumb thing by trading it on a new model in 2008; the car loan was paid off in 2010 (it started out about $25,000.00 – stupid, I know [...] Read more »

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Sorry, School Fundraiser – You’re Not In My Budget!

Written by on September 22, 2011 · 42 Comments
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The inevitable packet came home from school with my daughter last week.  That same night, the doorbell started ringing signalling the beginning of the school fundraising season. Whether you have school aged children, or you’ve experienced that knock at the door, you know what I mean. Kids trying to sell you products that you cannot possibly live without at an inflated price all in the name of helping their school. The motivation given to the students is a ladder of prizes – the more you sell, the better the prize. Of course every student begins the fundraiser with hopes of [...] Read more »

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Financial Peace University Week 1

Written by on September 21, 2011 · 22 Comments
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Last week I started attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. If you are not familiar with this course it's a 13 week program where "you'll learn how to beat debt, build wealth, find bargains, invest for the future, give like never before, and much more!" Each lesson is 2 hours long and includes a one hour video of Dave Ramsey speaking and then an hour of discussion in the classroom. Here is the link to the Dave Ramsey site if you want more information about the course. I also did a longer write up myself about the course over at Money Talks which includes my reservations about attending. Every week for the next 13 weeks I'm going to be writing about my experience about the class. So you guys are going to get a full in-depth review of Financial Peace University. Read more »

Investing — The Whole Return

Written by on September 20, 2011 · Leave a Comment
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Losing money can really make you angry, but, eventually, you can make up the losses. But when time is lost, you will never get it back. The factor of time in investment return calculations is limited to the time period of the investment, e.g. One Year, Year To Date, Trailing Three Years, Calendar Year, etc. Return calculations are objective and purely mathematical. The value of your time is left out of the calculation of investment return. What about the time you spend as an investor? What is it worth? Isnʼt that part of your whole return and shouldnʼt you include [...] Read more »

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Two Giveaways and a New Business Venture

Written by on September 19, 2011 · 11 Comments
Chasing Rainbows

Today I wanted to take this opportunity to share some things with you in case you missed it over the weekend. Many of you know Budgets Are Sexy but did you know that Giveaways Are Sexy too? Well they are, and my friend J. Money is making sure of it. This week I am sponsoring a sexy giveaway!! I have offered up a Financial Peace University Lifetime Membership Kit ($119 value) and you are invited to enter the giveaway. After you finish this post be sure to head over and enter your name to win!! Read more »

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5 Ways to Plan for your Family’s Future…Without Going into Debt in the Present

Written by on September 18, 2011 · 1 Comment
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When you’re responsible for a family, you want to know your loved ones will be cared for now and even after you are gone. There are several steps you can start taking to make certain your family’s needs are met without causing a serious disruption to your current finances. Here are some options to consider. Be Careful at Home Be sensible around your house. Don’t leave unnecessary lights on, and wait until you have a sizeable laundry load before washing clothes in order to save electricity costs. This can also help you reduce your water bill. Check Your Bills Take [...] Read more »

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Book Giveaway: The Wealth Cure by Hill Harper

Written by on September 17, 2011 · 20 Comments
wealth cure

Time for another book giveaway! I have not personally read this book yet but it is on my wish list. It sounds like a very inspirational story and a great read for those who want to transform their financial struggles into financial success. Today, I’m giving away one copy of this book and you will have until Wednesday by midnight to enter to win. Enter this Giveaway In order to be eligible to win the hardcover copy of The Wealth Cure all you need to do is leave a comment on this post describing a bad financial habit you have [...] Read more »

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Does Where I Live Really Make a Difference in my Auto Insurance Rate?

Written by on September 16, 2011 · Leave a Comment
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A lot of people wonder what factors are used to determine their auto insurance rates. It’s taken for granted that auto insurance companies will likely give you higher rates if your driving record is pockmarked with accidents, infractions and other black marks. Additionally, matters such as age, criminal history and the type of car you own are also taken into account. However, for one reason or another, consumers don’t always understand the affect moving away can have on their auto insurance. They say location is important in real estate, but it can be just as vital in auto insurance. Even [...] Read more »

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Take a Step Back…Put your Financial Behavior in Check

Written by on September 15, 2011 · 7 Comments
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Debt is sometimes inevitable, unavoidable, and well a fact of life for many. No matter what your stage of life you may be faced with financial issues. Life can take its toll on your finances; unemployment, an unexpected illness, divorce or a death in the family can send you into a financial tailspin. But sometimes financial issues stem from a cause deeper than the unexpected; the way you think about money. To snap out of bad financial habits it may require some lifestyle and behavioral changes. 10 Financial Principles Dr. Bernard Poduska, author of For Love or Money writes about [...] Read more »

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Debtors Anonymous

Written by on September 14, 2011 · 3 Comments
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Do you ever feel out of control when shopping? Most of us have experienced some “temporary insanity” when shopping, but there are times when it’s more than getting caught up in the moment. There are times when shopping becomes a compulsion, like a drug addiction. Sometimes heavy debt is more than just bad decision-making or poor financial literacy. Sometimes it’s a true addiction that needs treatment beyond what a new budget and some baby steps can provide. Here are the signs of compulsive debting. Being unclear about your financial situation. Not knowing account balances, monthly expenses, loan interest rates, fees, [...] Read more »

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