Earlier this week I wrote how I’m forcing my daughter to go shopping. That’s a bit of an exaggeration, since she really does want to go buy new clothes anyway.  I was talking with her this morning and told her as she’s walking around the mall this weekend to think about how it feels to be able to essentially buy whatever clothes she wants. I told her that feeling is called financial freedom.  If she works hard and is smart with her money, she can continue to have that feeling throughout adulthood. Fist pump for financial freedom, and my favorite […] Read more »

Imagine stopping by a pharmacy to pick up a prescription you absolutely have to have, but the cost is more than you have in your checking account.  Do you sacrifice your health because you cannot afford your medication? What would you do? Below are six actions you can take to reduce cost when your doctor prescribes medication you cannot afford. Ask For Samples Drug companies give doctors product samples to be distributed for free. Asking your doctor for samples is not a permanent solution, but could help until a long term solution is found. Be Proactive Tell your doctor if […] Read more »

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Sara Williams who blogs about everything to do with debt at Debt Camel, from payday loans to mortgages. I’m a debt adviser in London. But money and debt problems are universal, so my favourite debt quotations range from the Romans to 21st century America! I’ve put them roughly in date order but, as you will see, not a lot has changed over the centuries. #1. Debt is the slavery of the free. Publius Syrius c.50BC I like this one because so much advertising has the subconscious message that being able to buy […] Read more »

Major life events like a career change can have major consequences for your financial future. The extra debt you take on while going through a career change could end up disrupting your plans down the road. So you want to avoid taking on new debt at this time. While that can sound almost impossible when you’re already just trying to figure out how to make ends meet, you can do it! Here are 5 tips to make sure you stay on track and stay away from debt while going through a career change! #1 Cut the Non-Essentials During lean times, […] Read more »

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Pauline of InvestmentZen.com Refinancing, restructuring, or consolidating debt is a step that many have taken in order to become debt-free sooner. This is done for a multitude of reasons but usually involve getting a better interest rate, or term on your debt, making the final pay off cheaper and quicker. This works in different ways. The idea is either to lower your debt payments, or to pay off debt quicker, for a lower interest rate. Before you start, do some research and find out the best rates available on the market. The […] Read more »

I’m a huge advocate of increasing financial education for our children. I don’t feel our school system currently does enough to prepare students to manage their finances successfully. But I certainly don’t think schools should be the only source of financial education. Parents need to play a significant role as well, including ensuring kids have a grasp on how much things cost. I had two wonderful opportunities to do just that over the weekend.   Car Repairs As my son was backing our car out of the garage on his way to school, I heard a loud noise. I opened […] Read more »

Last week Apple officially unveiled the iPhone 7, causing much buzz among consumers. I know people that were watching the announcement live while they were at work. I witnessed unbounded praise on Facebook from friends that are fans of Apple. I’ve already seen iPhone 6 models up for sale as they’ve per-ordered their iPhone 7. With all of this, I figured I should at least familiarize myself with the wonders of this new phone and why people are getting ready to once again camp out in line to shell out a minimum of $649. I did some research and created […] Read more »

Last weekend my wife and I traveled about 4 hours north to Duluth, Minnesota so I could run a half marathon as part of the Grandma’s Marathon weekend. If you’ve ever traveled to another city to participate in a large running event, you know that the prices of many necessities are jacked sky high because they have a captive audience. For example, hotel room prices double during marathon weekend in Duluth, and guests are required to stay (or at least pay for) two nights. Also, event parking prices go into effect for lots near marathon activities. The good news is […] Read more »