Here’s How to Do It Are you living from paycheck to paycheck? Do you hate the way your credit card debt keeps creeping up? Do you dream of buying your own home or a new car but don’t think you’ll ever have enough money? There are no magical solutions to suddenly getting out of debt, […]
It’s Time to Change Your Money Habits Read More »
Divorce can be emotionally freeing for women, but it can also be financially devastating. Women, far more than men, face a stark plummet in their standard of living after divorce. That is why, if you are considering divorce, you must start planning right now for your post-divorce life. One of the most important questions you’ll
How Much Money Will You Need for Your Post-Divorce Life? Read More »
When it comes to negotiation, women often get a bad rep as weak, insecure, and not confident. Most research on the topic of gender and negotiation deals with salary negotiation, where surveys do find that women are less likely to negotiate for a higher salary than their male counterparts. Do women really face a crisis
Are Women Bad Divorce Negotiators? Read More »
When you think about your finances, what keeps you awake at night? For most women, it’s the fear they will outlive their money and become a “bag lady.” The transition from regular paychecks to full-blown retirement can be downright scary. With traditional pensions going the way of the Model T, and the Social Security platform
Want to Protect Your Income in Retirement? It’s Time to Learn About Variable Annuities Read More »
My husband and I are divorcing, and he says that unless I agree to split the property the way he wants, he’ll take me to court and the judge will order us to sell everything. Can he do that? First, we’re sorry that your husband has resorted to divorce threats instead of working with you
What to Do When Your Husband Makes Divorce Threats Read More »
This month, as wedding bells ring for hordes of happy, hopeful newlyweds, my husband and I are celebrating our 29th anniversary. We’ve learned a lot over the years, and we wish all the new kids on the block as much happiness and good fortune as we’ve enjoyed. We especially wish them the will and wisdom
Money Talks … Love Listens Read More »
A prenuptial agreement (or prenup) is often more important in a second marriage than in a first. Because of obligations to children, existing assets, and prior legal commitments, a written agreement assures that everyone’s needs are clear and their financial interests protected. If your future spouse feels uncomfortable about the idea, reassure him that the
To Prenup or Not To Prenup Read More »
Graduation is a time for new beginnings. As you join the world of work, realize that you have a tremendous power to shape your financial future. That’s because you hold the greatest of all assets—time! The ability to set goals and know what needs to be done to reach them begins the exciting journey toward
Finance 101 for New Graduates Read More »
Summer is a great time for taking a deep breath and a good look around. If you cast your eyes on the old homestead—the yard, the garage, the closets, and the cupboards—and see way too much stuff, you’re not alone. Americans have more stuff than they can handle. Think about those self-storage facilities appearing everywhere.
The All-American Yard Sale Read More »
It’s hard to stay on budget when planning your wedding-expenses can get away from you as you strive for the “perfect day.” Use the following savings secrets to keep your best laid wedding plans from going awry. Try not to make quick decisions. Impulsive decisions can lead to canceled contracts and returned items which in
The Best-Laid Wedding Plans Read More »
We create our lives each day by choosing what we focus on. But too often what we focus on doesn’t advance our lives or accomplish our goals. We are too caught up in our daily living to even figure out our goals, never mind taking steps to accomplish them. Let us illustrate this with a
What Your Kids Can Learn from a Trip to the Beach Read More »
Many couples are moving in together before they get married. Deciding to live together is a big step in any relationship. It generally means you’re seriously thinking about commitment, but you want to do a little more investigating before taking the plunge. Though it can seem romantic to merge your finances as you merge your
Moving in With Your Sweetheart Read More »
The Help Wanted sign has practically disappeared for today’s teens. Too many young job seekers are likely to spend the summer on social media or watching TV instead of scooping ice cream or serving pizza. Some experts also blame higher minimum wage laws for squeezing out entry-level workers. Teens face competition from laid-off adults, seniors,
Help Wanted for Teens: How to Work the Job Market Read More »
Are your vacations so hectic that you need to get back to work to relax once you return? Are you still paying off your last vacation while booking your next one? Here’s a way to abandon the stressful vacation payment treadmill, and relax on the cheap this summer. Get away without going away Whenever my
Save Money This Summer with a Staycation Read More »
Isn’t it amazing how you’ll spend an entire back-breaking day cleaning your garage every few years and promise yourself that you’ll never, ever let it revert back into the cluttered mess that it was? Then, come next spring, your beautiful, spic-and-span garage has somehow de-evolved once again into something that looks suspiciously like a landfill.
Spring Clean Your Budget in Five Easy Steps Read More »
How to prioritize in your divorce negotiation It’s common enough for people to go a “bit crazy” during their divorce proceedings, but the case of a San Diego pointer-greyhound mix named Gigi was so outlandish that it managed to make national headlines. Gigi belonged to Dr. Stanley Perkins and his wife, Linda. When the couple
Would You Pay $150,000 to Keep Your Pet in a Divorce? Read More »
I have a friend, and I’m completely jealous of him. Financially jealous, that is. You’ll probably be jealous of him too. This is a guy who made it through college and grad school without a cent of debt through a combination of scholarships, working, and some support from his parents. Now, only in his late
Here’s the Worst Credit Mistake You Can Make Read More »
Your little baby is growing up. Now that she’s driving and started her first part-time job, is she ready to handle all of the privileges and risks associated with owning a credit card? Heck, is she even old enough? You may wonder when is the right time is for your teen to get his or
When Should Your Teen Get Their First Credit Card? Read More »
Aside from your home, it is likely that the retirement accounts you and your husband hold make up a large portion of your shared assets. Divorce accounts, like 401(k) plans, IRAs, and pension funds come with a lot of rules and regulations, which makes them a little tricky to tackle in divorce. However, retirement accounts
Are You Entitled to Some of Your Husband’s Retirement Savings In Your Divorce? Read More »
If you are in the middle of a divorce, it can be confusing to know what tax filing status to use. With that in mind, we’re re-posting this helpful article from last year, which breaks down all your different options. Even after the emotional turmoil of a divorce, life goes on, and so do taxes.
Getting Divorced? What Tax Filing Status Should You Use? Read More »
Your beautiful new baby has arrived and you think you’ve got the safety thing under control. The house is childproofed, you’ve got the pediatrician’s phone number posted on the fridge, and a brand new car seat sits in the back of your minivan. But physical safety is just part of the challenge. Unless you’re Julia
Five Ways to Safeguard Your New Baby’s Financial Future Read More »
Popular culture would have us believe that retirement is a grand reward earned after a long and productive career, but more and more women in their 60s and 70s are rejecting that notion. They continue to work, not because they have to, but oftentimes because they’re just having too much fun. As Claire Cain Miller
Are You Having Too Much Fun to Retire? Read More »
Want to know the definition of frustration? Try going wedding dress shopping with a bride who hasn’t a clue as to what dress she wants but will “know it when she sees it.” I was fortunate enough to enjoy just such an experience when I performed my sisterly duty and took my sister wedding dress
Need to Save Money and Space? Embrace the Rental Economy Read More »
Going through a divorce is stressful, and that stress can have a serious impact on your health. The greater your stress, the worse your health becomes. The worse your health becomes, the more costs you face related to your health and the lower quality of life you experience. Dealing with health issues, expensive medical costs,
Take Care of Your Health During Divorce Read More »
You’re browsing a job website looking for a new career, and bam! You see it. Your dream job is right there, almost within your grasp. You eagerly click on the job description, your heart pounding in your chest. As the screen loads, you can already imagine yourself swaggering into the office on your first day
Every estate is different and will require you to make unique choices when it comes to negotiating a divorce settlement with your spouse. The more complex your estate is, the trickier it can be to know what a fair division of assets is. What happens if your husband has lots of investments that may pay
During the Divorce, Should You Take the Investments…Or Cash? Read More »
Tax Quotes “I’m proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money.” — Arthur Godfrey “The trouble with the profession of tax collecting is that 90% of its members give the rest a bad name.” — anonymous “Day in and day out, your
Funny Tax Quotes and Facts Read More »
Most people think about taxes only in the spring. But if you are planning to retire in the near future, there are lots of things you should be doing right now to put in place a smart retirement tax strategy that can save you big bucks and help you achieve the retirement you want. If
Five Simple Tips That Will Help You Save Big on Taxes in Retirement Read More »
Tax time is right around the corner, and for a lot of us, that means meeting with a tax preparer. Sure, you can do your taxes yourself, but sometimes it pays to have a little advice and direction, especially if your tax situation is complex. Keep in mind that even though you’re using a professional,
Help Your Tax Preparer Help You Read More »
When you start digging into the tax code – not something we’d recommend unless you are suffering from severe insomnia – you’ll quickly notice that there are a seemingly endless number of taxes. Fortunately, many of these taxes are highly specialized and don’t affect most people. However, some of these taxes occasionally pop up in
Do You Have to Worry About Capital Gains Tax? Read More »
Aren’t tax refunds the best? It’s like a little tax refund fairy just dropped a wad of money on your pillow in the middle of the night, letting you finally buy those adorable kid boots you’ve always wanted or take that girl’s weekend to Tahoe your friends have been talking about forever. You know that
Here’s How You Can Grow Your Tax Refund into a Behemoth Read More »
Divorce is expensive, so anything you can save on your taxes can help you rebuild your new post-divorce life. If your divorce was completed by December 31st of the prior year, then you may be able to take advantage of big tax savings if you meet the IRS’s qualifications as a “head of household.” By
Can I Claim Head of Household Status After a Divorce? Read More »
Q: My husband left three years ago and is continuing to pay the mortgage. I want to sell [the house] so I can move, but he doesn’t. He doesn’t have enough money to buy me out or the credit to refinance it on his own. What do I do? ~ Brenda Brenda, we are sorry
What If One Spouse Wants to Sell the House After the Divorce and the Other Doesn’t? Read More »
If you want to keep your house after your divorce, you are taking on a big financial challenge! If you are like most Americans, your mortgage represents your largest monthly expense, and now instead of splitting it between two incomes, you’ll have to find a way to shoulder it all on your own. Still, many
How to Get the House in Your Name After a Divorce Read More »
Not every person listens to their better angels, and unfortunately, there are a lot of people in the world who are dedicated to separating you from your money. Tax season, in particular, is like scam-artist Christmas. The combination of confusing tax forms, fear of the IRS, and juicy tax refunds is just too much for
Three Tax Scams to Avoid this Tax Season Read More »
Taxes are, unfortunately, a part of every financial decision. Like it or not, Uncle Sam’s greedy fingers reach into your pocket with every paycheck and each dollar of investment earnings.
25 Ways to Save Taxes Through Life’s Transitions Read More »
If you got a bill for $387.81 right now, could you pay it off without using your credit cards, begging family members, or taking out a payday loan with a huge interest rate? It just so happens that $387.81 is the average cost of a car repair when the check engine light comes on. If
If you thought we proposed some pretty big ideas to pay off your credit card debt this year in part one of this series, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. We’ve saved our biggest, boldest, and most serious ideas for this article. If you’ve got thousands of dollars in credit card debt to pay down, you
You’ve got credit card debt, and you hate it! Maybe a snapped timing belt in your car (and the huge bill that followed) sent you into a credit card spiral, or you lost your job, or you simply have a habit of swiping now and worrying about the consequences later. Whatever the reason, your credit
There is a popular consensus that divorce rates in the United States are sky high and climbing fast, but the truth is that actual rates of divorce have settled over the last decade of so for all age groups…except one. We are in what some experts have called, the “gray divorce revolution.” A study out
Can I Get Divorced After 50 and Still Retire on Time? Read More »
Is this the year you finally begin building your own investment portfolio? If you feel nervous about putting your money into the stock market, or aren’t sure how to get started, then this article by Lynda Claiborne is the perfect starter for you! What does financial freedom mean to you? For most people, it is
Five Steps To Building A Portfolio Read More »
