Pay yourself first. It’s advice advocated by David Bach and a long line of financial gurus. Financially, this refers to setting aside a small portion of your income to fund your financial priorities like savings, investing, and paying off debt. But paying yourself first applies to the rest of life as well. In so many ways, we take care of everyone and everything else before … [Read more...]
Search Results for: finance
How to Stop Fighting With Your Honey Over Money
Money issues can sap the bliss out of any relationship. In fact, according to a MONEY magazine survey, 70% of married couples argue about money. They fight more about money than they fight about household chores, spending time together or even sex. But you don’t have to let finances become your downfall. Consider these simple steps for bringing financial peace back into your … [Read more...]
How To Retire Comfortably Even If You Are Broke
By Douglas Barnes Ok, so you’re at retirement age, and you’ve got no money, you’ve got no job, no marketable skills and your credit sucks eggs. What options do you now have, and what are you supposed to do at retirement time. You’ve begun to realize that your finances have never been this bad, and mentally, you are so depressed, that you are about three to four French … [Read more...]
#StayWoke: How to Keep Money Problems From Keeping You Awake at Night
Are you tossing and turning thinking about your bills? Losing sleep over mounting student loan or credit card debt? If so, you’re not alone. According to a CreditCards.com national survey, sixty-five percent of respondents admitted to losing sleep over money problems, a level of financial insomnia not seen since the Great Recession. At the the top of our financial worry … [Read more...]
Iyanla Can’t Fix This: 5 Ways that YOU Can Get Your Financial Life in Order
If you haven't seen the popular OWN TV show, Iyanla Fix My Life, where relationship expert Iyanla Vanzant teaches celebrities and everyday folks how to fix what's broken in their lives, then you've been missing some good TV (especially this season.) Iyanla provides tough advice, but somehow I get the feeling that when the cameras turn off, her subjects are going to slip back … [Read more...]
Student Loan Help – 5 Ways to Protect Yourself from Untrustworthy Student Loan Servicers
I hate student loans. Don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful for the education that those loans afforded, but I despise the paperwork, the hassle, and the never-ending interest which make paying off student loans such a herculean task. Student loans represent some perverse never-ending form of bondage. And nearly 44 million Americans are in this financial bondage to a tune of … [Read more...]
Financial Intimacy – What is It and Why Black Couples Need It So Much?
Of the many intimacies that we attend to and invest our energy into throughout the course of a relationship, financial intimacy usually is not at the top of the list...despite its impact on the day-to-day functioning and operations of a household. In order to have a healthy, trusting, and holistic marriage, though, we must pay close attention to how we are working on deepening … [Read more...]
BMWK Communication Challenge Day 4: How to Discuss Awkward Topics
By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter Relationship experts agree, healthy communication is needed if a couple plans to create a strong foundation for their partnership. It is definitely a key ingredient. And, is always recommended when we discuss family finances, when we disagree, and as we're planning for the future. A couple should be able to make requests and verbalize what's on … [Read more...]
The One Thing You MUST Have If You Want Good Communication with Your Spouse… No Exceptions
There is one thing that needs to be present before you can even begin having or improving communication with your spouse - honesty. And not only do you have to be honest, but you also have to be honest often. Do just one or the other, or none at all, and you risk constructing your communication on shaky ground. Let me explain. Honesty is a must! Honesty is very bottom rung on … [Read more...]
You’re Giving the Government an Interest Free Loan and You Don’t Even Realize It
Would you lend the government money interest free? Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But that’s exactly what millions of us do every year when we receive our IRS refund. Your refund may seem like a gift, but it’s actually not. We receive a tax refund simply because we paid the IRS more money than we needed to. Far from being a windfall, our tax refund is money we rightfully … [Read more...]
Stop Losing Money: Here’s Why You Should Get Help With Your Taxes
According to Benjamin Franklin, there are only two things certain in life: death and taxes. Unfortunately, this year’s April 18th tax deadline is fast approaching. With a tax code that is 74,608 pages long and changes being made yearly, it’s almost impossible for an individual to be aware of all the tax credits or deductions for which he or she may be eligible. Take the … [Read more...]
5 Super Smart Things to Do with Your Refund Check
Last year the average taxpayer received a federal tax refund of nearly $3200. Having received such a large check in the past, I can fully appreciate the temptations to spend the money on something “fun”. We all work hard for our money so a new toy or vacation should be considered reasonable. Right? But, if you can resist the temptation to splurge, your IRS “windfall” offers … [Read more...]
Why Boring Is Beautiful When It Comes to Your Money – Index Funds
Warren Buffett is the third richest man in the world and has been hailed as one of the greatest stock pickers of all time. But you might be surprised the advice he is giving to his future heirs. Instead of investing in individual stocks or mutual funds, when Buffett passes away he wants his wealth placed in index funds. “My advice to the trustee could not be more simple: Put … [Read more...]
5 Steps to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
Have you noticed how people frequently define their financial success by the type of car they drive or by the size of their homes? Don’t get me wrong. Having nice things is not bad, but true financial success is found in achieving financial peace of mind. Financial peace of mind is that secure feeling, knowing you don’t have to worry about meeting day-to-day expenses, that … [Read more...]
Wake-up Call: Divorce Begins Long Before She Walks Out the Door
When she packed her bags, and walked out the door he was shocked. He didn't see it coming. What happened? What did he miss? Was there another man? No, there wasn't another man. However, there was a woman who felt alone in her own home. You see, her divorce began way before she walked out that door. Being a life partner now seemed like a life sentence for her. This had been … [Read more...]