Many of us look around and wonder how we ended up with so much stuff . Sometimes I wonder why I spend the money on things that don’t get used much. There is a lot to be said for a little more simplicity, as many people are discovering in this recession. It is possible to spend less money, and still live a full life. And, of course, just because you can afford something doesn’t mean you have to buy

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, but it can also be one of the most expensive. You want your day to be perfect, but with the average cost of a wedding in America totaling $25,200, that price tag is hard to swallow. That’s a lot of money to pay for a few hours of celebration. It’s tough to cut back on your wedding. After all, it’s a celebration of love in front of th

Let me share a story with you: My friend chose to sacrifice himself and stay behind for work reasons when his family immigrated to the States a few years ago. It was a difficult decision I’m sure, but one that was necessary (I’m told) due to financial constrains. His son was 14 at the time but he was always upset. I remember one evening while we were over for dinner, he asked his mom out loud “Why

I was talking with a friend about a few ways that he could start earning some more money the other day, and he said something that absolutely stopped me in my tracks: he told me that he didn’t want to earn too much money because it would bump him into the next tax bracket. He was absolutely adamant that he didn’t want to be paying more in taxes. But, in my mind, a higher tax bracket is a good thin

One of the best things you can do if you want to build wealth over time is to invest. Thanks to the power of compound interest, investing offers one of the most effective ways to grow your nest egg and prepare for financial freedom down the road . Unfortunately, there is a good chance right now that you believe some of the myths circulating about investing. And since it’s easy to get bogged down w

Credit card debt is the worst. The super high interest rates make paying the debt off seem to take forever . When I got my first credit card, it took me more than a year to pay back the $1,500 I’d racked up. Luckily, it’s extremely difficult but not impossible. I eventually dug myself out of a hole, and you can, too. This is true no matter the amount of debt you’re in. There are a few strategies t

One of the things that many of us aspire to be is, surprisingly, average. We want to have the same things that those around us have. (Or at least, have the same things we think those around us have.) This is natural. We all like to feel as though we belong. However, it’s not always best to be average — especially when it comes to money. After all, do you really want to spend money on something jus

None of us like to think about our own or our loved ones’ mortality, but ignoring that eventuality will not make a stressful situation any easier. When a family member dies, it’s important for you to know what responsibilities you might be facing. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect if a family member dies and leaves debts behind: Paying From the Estate After a death, the executor of the dec

A few months ago, a group of my husband’s online gaming friends mentioned they’re planning to take an Alaskan cruise next spring or fall, and invited us to join. While we’ve mentioned the idea of taking a cruise some time in the future, this conversation put the decision, place, and time right at our doorstep. After some thought, we decided… why not? We have almost a year to save for it and plan t

I used to think that perfectionism could only be a positive trait. After all, it comes with a drive to achieve many things, and to do so with a high level of excellence. When it comes to academics or athletics, perfectionism can set you apart from the crowd; in the workplace, perfectionism impresses the boss and earns promotions. But, as with any mostly-good trait, there are downsides to perfectio

A popular trend in the health community is cleansing – setting aside a week to 30-days dedicated to reigning in bad eating habits, losing weight, finding energy, or maybe just feeling better. Cleanses can help people reach short-term health goals faster, change their eating habits, and find new motivation to turn short-term discipline into a long-term lifestyle. Imagine what could be done if more

The cost of even a small repair makes car insurance nice to have. When we start adding in the medical expenses that can go with a car accident, insurance becomes downright necessary. In many states, insurance is even a legal requirement before you can drive your car out on the road. But a wide variety of options are available when it comes to insurance— there are actually seven different types of