Category

Start the Year Off Right

 

photo credit: sixty69niner
The turning of the calendar to a new year can provide motivation and a fresh start. Leave all your financial garbage behind in 2008. Instead of making resolutions, take action to improve your finances for this year and the years to come.

Set up a Christmas account – Congratulations if you did all [...]

2009 Financial Dates to Know

photo credit: sixty69niner
Kiplinger.com has published a 2009 “money calendar”.  Here are some of those important dates that you should make note of -

January 15th – Estimated taxes are due for the fourth quarter of 2008
January 31st – W-2’s and other financial statements for 2008 should begin arriving
March 15th – Last day to use funds [...]

What to Do in this Financial Climate?

photo credit: Latente § piove merda e dicono che è ciocolata
Like most of you, my 401(k) has steadily been declining despite the money I contribute with each paycheck.  When I checked my balance last night, it looked a lot like my 2005 balance!  So what am I going to do?  Nothing, or rather stay [...]

July Monthly Update

photo credit: blakeimeson
Sorry for the delay but things have been busy both at work and at home. I’ve decided to modify my goal of saving 25% of my gross income for retirement this year. In my zeal to amass lots of retirement savings, I lost sight of the fact that that money [...]

Retirement Challenge Update

Well, I just finished doing my monthly update.  As you may recall, I set a stretch goal of saving 25% of my gross income (from all sources) for retirement this year.  At the end of April, I was at 17.69%.  At the end of May, I only increased to 17.74%.  However, this week I will [...]

Challenge Yourself!

It’s very easy to get complacent in life as well as with your finances.  I’m definitely guilty of this.  Therefore, i’ve decided to give myself a challenge.  I hope you’ll join in and create your own challenge.
I currently save ~20% of my gross income for retirement.  My challenge will be to increase that amount to [...]

Saving for Retirement

People often ask in what order should they utilize the various retirement accounts/options.  Below is my take on the matter.
Stage 0 – Have an e-fund (at least 3 months’ expenses) in place – This should be your first priority so that when (not if) the unexpected happens, you don’t have to accrue debt.
Stage 1 – [...]

What’s Your Type?

I recently read The Number by Lee Eisenberg.  In it, he defines four different types when it comes to retirement planning – the procrastinator, the plucker, the plotter and the prober.  (Click here for definitions.)
Personally, I think I fall somewhere between plotter and prober.  I’m definitely a number-cruncher.  I get a great deal of enjoyment [...]