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

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 »

Take a Step Back…Put your Financial Behavior in Check

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 »

Debtors Anonymous

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 »

Investing — Medically Speaking

Investing is like medicine. If you want to lose weight, any doctor can offer medically proven suggestions such as reducing calories and/or increasing exercise. If you want to grow your portfolio, over time, any professional can offer recommendations to help you by increasing your investments in the market and helping you remain invested when times are tough. But, neither doctors nor investment professionals can help everyone. Imagine a man telling his doctor he wants to lose 30 pounds without exercise and to include a dozen donuts per day in his weight loss plan. You can imagine the doctor’s response. It […] Read more »

When is it the Right Time to Let Your Kids be Financially Responsible?

I am not the kind of person who likes to tell other parents how they should do their job. Everyone has their own methods when it comes to raising children and in most situations there is no right or wrong way of doing things. But conversations between parents are often an invaluable source of ideas, so I’m going to offer some thoughts on the process of how to help your children become financially independent as they grow into young adults. The behaviors that turn children into fiscally prudent adults can begin at a very young age. From spending and saving […] Read more »

Why do so Many Americans Rely on Social Security?

As I checked up on Twitter Thursday morning I noticed that “social security” was a trending topic. Very rarely do you see a trending topic that has any real life value, so it was for this reason I decided to see what all the fuss was about. You don’t have to be Democrat or Republican to know that Social Security is bankrupt. This is a non-partisan issue, or at least it should be. Some seem to believe that reform is not only needed but necessary, while others think it should just be left alone. Regardless of which side you tend […] Read more »

Don’t Stink. Budget!

If you’re a regular reader of Our Journey to Zero, you know I’ve been on a serious fitness kick now for over 8 months. Getting in shape is all about getting in the habit of exercising. Now that I’m in the habit of exercising, it feels wrong to not work out every day. It just feels like something is missing. Recently I skipped two days in a row for probably the first time this year. I was downright cranky. There are a lot of people who want to get in shape and lose weight. So why don’t they? They say […] Read more »

Should You Buy Points to Lower Your Mortgage Rate?

With interest rates at the lowest they’ve been in most of our adult lives it’s a pretty tempting time to buy or refinance your mortgage. One option you often have when negotiating a home loan is whether or not to buy points. What are points? Points are basically pre-paid interest. You will pay 1% of the loan amount to bring down the rate by .125%. So if you are financing $150,000 you will pay $1,500 for one point. The lower your interest rate the lower your payment will be and you will pay the less interest over the course of […] Read more »

An Idiots Guide to Investing

“You’re an idiot!” She said this to me in response to overhearing me discuss the theme of my book, Investiphobia: Overcome Your Deepest Investment Fears with a friend on the deck at Starbucks. At least she waited until my friend was gone to make her observation. So, I asked her why she believes I am an “idiot” and had a reasonable discussion despite her comment. Surprisingly, she based her conclusion on two observations she made relating to the purpose of my book and it’s message. She said if my purpose is to help people overcome and eliminate their fears, I’m […] Read more »

My Interview with Perkstreet Financial CEO Dan O’Malley

Today I wanted to share with you a very special interview with Dan O’Malley, the CEO of Perkstreet Financial. As most of you know, I write for the Perkstreet blog, but am also a very happy customer. I’ve never before experienced such wonderful customer service and support  from a bank ever before and the perks we receive from everyday purchases on our debit card are an extra plus. I’ve banked with Suntrust, Bank of America, among other financial institutions and believe I have finally found the bank that not only says they care about my future, but proves it. I […] Read more »

I Need Your Help — Enemy of Debt Nominated for Best Debt Blog!

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone!! I hope you are having an awesome and safe weekend. I won’t take up too much of your time and get straight to the point. Enemy of Debt has been nominated for Best Debt Blog for the second annual Plutus Awards. That’s why I need all of you to take a few minutes to vote for Enemy of Debt! I can’t pull it off without you! You have until September 22nd to vote! Vote now! It doesn’t take long to vote, and you don’t have to vote in every category for your vote to count […] Read more »

Do Our Parents Money Decisions Define Us?

From a young age I was given the ability to choose how I would spend my money. I was raised in a “typical” family unit with two hard working parents and a younger sibling. We weren’t rich, we weren’t poor we were considered middle class, I suppose. My dad worked long hours as a small business owner (he was a mechanic) and my mom worked part-time so she could take care of us. The family business was passed onto him by my grandfather who came to the states with nothing except the clothes on his back. Read more »

Life is so Beautiful, Why Waste it Shackled with Debt?

As I stared into the beautiful face of our newborn, Hannah Rose, at 7:29 a.m. on Tuesday morning, tears of joy streaked down my face. All I could think about — besides how lucky I am to be blessed with such a wonderful family — was just how beautiful life really is. Those who know me know my children are EVERYTHING to me, and I wouldn’t want to waste a single moment of it unable to take advantage of the complete happiness that being a dad brings. Just like with anything else that travels through the depths of my mind, […] Read more »