Category

Handling Unexpected Expenses

photo credit: Orin Optiglot
It’s been my experience that very few expenses are truly unexpected. Therefore it makes sense to plan ahead so that you don’t find yourself scrambling to pay bills. I like the technique a lot of people call a “freedom account” or “freedom funds”. If you look at your spending for the [...]

What’s on My Financial Plate

Well, not much is going on with me financially right now. My finances are pretty much on auto-pilot but I’m always trying to find new ways to maintain the same standard of living while spending less and saving more. For example, I subscribe (free with FF miles of course) to Allure magazine. [...]

The Fifth and Final Step to Financial Success

If you haven’t read the previous posts in this series, here they are.
 
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
 
Now that you’ve compiled a list of strategies, you need to choose which ones to implement. Pull out your list of strategies. Next to each one, list the benefits of selecting that strategy. Also note what [...]

The Fourth Step to Financial Success

If you haven’t read the previous posts in this series, here they are.
 
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
 
The fourth step to achieving financial success is devising your strategies. First, create a cash flow statement that shows how much money you have coming in as well as going out. Whatever is left is your discretionary cash [...]

The Third Step to Financial Success

Earlier in the week, I discussed steps one and two for achieving financial success. The third step is to develop financial objectives. Objectives directly tie into the goals you set and a rule of thumb for setting effective objectives is to make them S.M.A.R.T. This stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Bound. [...]

Your Questions Answered

I decided to stray from the financial success series for a moment to answer the most common question I receive - what prompted your interest in personal finance and have you always managed your money well?
What can I say - I’m a nerd. From an early age, I loved all things math and money. Even [...]

The Second Step to Financial Success

2/27 - Edited to add a great link about selecting disability insurance - http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/02/27/the-disability-insurance-maze-how-to-select-and-purchase-a-policy/
Yesterday, I discussed the first step to financial success. Click here for that post. Now that you’ve defined your financial mission, the second step of your journey is to establish goals. Your goals can be short-term (within five years) or long-term (five [...]

Setting the Stage for Financial Success

Just as you wouldn’t set out on a trip without a road map to guide you, you need a plan in order to achieve financial success. Now success means different things to different people. There is no ‘one size fits all’ definition or path. Today’s post will be the first of a [...]

Beware of Having All Joint Accounts

While I am definitely NOT one of those women who suggests you have a secret stash and hide money from your spouse, I also am not one of those women who suggests you merge every last thing and only have joint accounts. It is imperative that you maintain your own credit, even after marriage. [...]

Ten Easy Ways to Save Money

I’m always looking for ways to make more money and to spend less money…without lowering my quality of life/standard of living.  So I thought I’d give you guys a sample of the ways I like to save money.  There are some things I don’t mind paying full-price for (like Cirque du Soleil tickets) but those [...]