[This is a guest post] In today’s financial turmoil, we all have become financial worrywarts. We always worry about our financial security, especially after retirement. Unfortunately, we worry a lot, but hardly do anything anything about it, whether it is for the betterment of our retirement or paying next weeks grocery bill. Many people tend to live beyond their means and either lie to themselves about or hide it from their financial advisor, if they have one. Many are losing out on a good night sleep because of the fear that they will be running out of money much sooner […] Read more »

The following is a guest post from Crystal at Budgeting in the Fun Stuff, where she covers spending, saving, and budgeting for fun along the way. ———- I drive a crappy car with no upgrades at all, although I think it did have a Xzilon interior treatment before it left the dealership. I plan to keep driving my car for at least another couple of years. Buying My Car – Xzilon Not Included My car hunt started right after college in 2005 since I needed to give back my parents’ extra car. I had a really awful experience with a […] Read more »

[Guest post by Lindsay from TeacHer Finance] Deciding to take the plunge into homeownership is a really big deal for a lot of people, and for good reason: purchasing a home is a huge commitment that few of us sign onto without serious consideration. After all the hemming and hawing about whether or not to buy or keep renting, many of us are so excited to dive right into house-hunting that we fail to pay attention to some – ahem – key details. Of course, I’m talking about the all-important credit score, the little digit that has the power to […] Read more »

[Guest post] The Banco Central do Brasil is fighting back against the upward pressure on inflation. In 2012 consumer prices went up by 5.8%; so far this year prices have risen by 6.09%, worryingly close to the upper limits of 6.5% for the year as a whole. The central bank’s response has been to raise its benchmark “Selic” interest rate four times, from the 2012 low of 7.25% to today’s 9%. The latest move took place in late August and analysts are sure there are more increases to come. In the most recent survey by the Bloomberg news agency, the […] Read more »

(This is a guest post) There are many myths about mortgages that are so widespread that large numbers of people believe them wholeheartedly. Many of these myths are passed on as well-known advice from person to person in attempts to assist friends or family members in making the right mortgage decisions. While some myths have little effect on the person’s finances, believing in others could cost the homebuyer thousands of dollars in additional costs over the life of the loan. Here is some of the most common mortgage myths that people tend to believe. Myth 1– A 20% Down Payment […] Read more »