Archive for December, 2007
« Previous EntriesBecoming debt-free after divorce
Monday, December 31st, 2007
I separated from my children’s father in 1995. I was 31 years old, emotionally worn down, and financially bankrupt. My children were five, three, and five months old at the time, and I had to make a plan that would work for all of us. I needed to be close to my family […]
The dark side of debit cards
Saturday, December 29th, 2007Debit cards seem like such a good idea and in some ways they are.
You don’t pay interest. You only use the money in your checking account so there’s built-in discipline. For some transactions, like hotel reservations and airline tickets, you can’t use cash so a debit card is a good option.
But there’s a dark side […]
Another fun comic about credit cards
Wednesday, December 26th, 2007Source: Comics.com
Thanks to Dianne for bringing these comics to my attention.
A fun comic about credit cards
Sunday, December 23rd, 2007Source: Comics.com
What is your relationship with money?
Friday, December 21st, 2007The key to building wealth is about more than just changing your spending habits. The fundamental ingredient to getting out of debt and staying out of debt is to change your relationship with money.
What does money mean to you? Security? Happiness? Love? For most of us, the true meaning of currency […]
Is $500 too much to spend on your child’s Christmas presents?
Saturday, December 15th, 2007A woman with a household income of $450,000 asked this question on the Dave Ramsey show the other day. Her husband wanted to spend no more than $500 on each of their two children for Christmas. She wondered if maybe it would be OK to spend more.
It’s nice to know that affluent people […]
Going broke on a six figure salary: First Blame the Kids
Saturday, December 15th, 2007I admit that “first blame the children” is a mantra of mine. I use it when I can’t find something, when something breaks, when I’m running late or if I’m having a bad hair day.
Apparently the “first blame the children” mantra can also be used when your salary is six figures and you’re basically […]
Think twice before you buy that gift card
Friday, December 14th, 2007Trim the tree. Make your holiday gift list. And don’t forget to whip up some no-bake cookies for your child’s Christmas party while you’re at it.
As the holidays rush toward us, the last minute shopping crunch is enough to push many of us into a tailspin. . . as if our days […]
How to budget money
Thursday, December 13th, 2007Eek, I used the B word!
A fair number of people (50,000 or so) type the word “budget” into Google every day. Lots of other people use the word budget in phrases they type in Google. For example, 30 people each day type “how to budget money” into Google so that’s why I used […]
The Dreaded B Word
Saturday, December 8th, 2007One can’t talk about personal finance very long before one has to mention the dreaded B word.
The word is so dreaded I don’t even like to use it. So I won’t!
I’ll use an alternate word instead: dashboard.
Would you drive a car without a dashboard? It’s technically possible, of course. You have enough driving experience that […]