Six in ten Americans do not have a will. People do not create a will for a variety of reasons including they don’t want to think about death, and they don’t know how. But providing clear direction for what happens to your assets should you pass away is not only easy, but free and only takes a few minutes. Why Is A Will Important If you fail to create a will, and something happens to you, the following scenarios may occur: Court Appointed Executor : Without a will, the courts will name an executor you do not know or trust […] Read more »

  Know what you’re going to spend before you spend it. It’s more than good advice, it’s a requirement for financial success. Unless you have infinite monetary resources, you can’t just make purchases without having some idea of how much you’re about to spend. Without doing so, you’re just a purchase or two away from blowing your budget. My wife and I went through an experience in the past week that reminded us just how important this advice can be. Super Sized Skin Care Bill Over breakfast, my wife mentioned she needed some skin care products. This would be our […] Read more »

  Major life changes requires changes to your budget. My wife and I are getting used to being empty nesters as both our kids are now away at college. Since it’s just the two of us, our needs have changed so we’re reevaluating all our spending and adjusting our budget accordingly. Below are four expenditures in our budget that I believe are going to change now that neither of our kids are living at home. Groceries Food is the obvious one. The grocery cart differs not only in how much but also what food I purchase during a typical shopping […] Read more »

Every budget has limits. Whether you’re rich and famous or middle class, there are limits on how much you can spend. Some just run into their limit faster. In a society where success is equated with how much money you have, it’s hard to tell people you don’t have the funds to buy or do something. Especially when you’re being asked to be included in something that sounds really fun like a night out, a weekend away, or a group vacation. With that in mind, here is a list of polite ways to gracefully decline an invitation without making it […] Read more »