I always say, “Show me a person’s calendar and I’ll show you their priorities.”Well, I have a newer version of that: Show me a person’s spending, and I can show you what they love.I spent years talking to people about their spending habits, and I boiled them down to 10 “Money Dials.” They’re called Money Dials because you can “tune” them up or down — just like a dial.If you
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorRecently I met a man I liked. Unfortunately, he’s divorced with five kids. His kids live in a different state far away. On our first date, he made it clear that he is very wealthy and that when he dies, all his money is going to his children. I immediately got turned off. It just didn’t sound right. He broke the family
by Tiffany Beyer One of the biggest misconceptions about eating a vegan diet is that it’s too expensive. But cheap vegan meals are a thing, and they taste good.Processed vegan meats, artisan vegan cheeses and vegan eggs are a delicious treat, but the cost can quickly drain your bank account when you are aiming to create vegan meals.For example, a 16-ounce pack of Great Value American cheese slices runs $2.66,
by The Penny Hoarder Staff You’ve done it. You’ve built up a little cushion in your bank account — $1,500! It feels good, right? Those days of checking your account balance in a panic are behind you.Congrats! You’re on the right path, but should you keep that money in your checking account? Frankly, now it’s time to think about some longer-term goals. What do you want to accomplish next with
by Quinten Plummer Nobody plans to go into debt. But things happen. Maybe you lost your job, or got divorced or just had a rough stretch of luck.The next thing you know, you’re struggling to make your payments, your credit score is taking a hit and it feels like you’ll never be able to climb your way out of this hole.You may think you only have a few options: bankruptcy,
Varo BankBest for Cash Back3.00% APYAxos Bank Essential Checking AccountBest for Unlimited ATM AccessUp to 1.25%Chime SpendingBest for Digital Features0.50% APYAlly Interest CheckingBest for No Fee PerksUp to 0.25%by Kathleen GarvinContributor Do you remember why you chose your current checking account? If you got started early, your parents might have helped you open a kids’ checking or savings account at their bank’s branch. Or maybe you went with the credit
What if you lost your job today and needed a new job in a week? Could you do it?What if you just wanted some advice for a tough career decision? Is there someone you could ask?Or what if you wanted to make a big career change, like switching industries? Is there anyone you could call for help?The secret to solving all of these challenges is the same: informational interviews. You’ve
At IWT, we talk about 401ks – a lot. (See here, here, or here for proof)And, that’s with good reason. If you want to be rich, the 401k is one of the most powerful investment tools at your disposal, especially for retirement planning. It is also one of the most misunderstood money-maximizing vehicles, starting with how much you should have in your 401k.That is a solid question, but it doesn’t
by Robert BruceSenior WriterThe student loan servicing industry has had better days.Over the last several months, many servicers – companies that contract with the federal government to manage billing, customer service, etc – are stepping out of the loan servicing business.Here’s a quick breakdown: Richard Cordray, COO of Federal Student Aid, recently gave a policy speech to the Education Finance Council. His remarks were given to Politico.He said in the
When you have debts everywhere you turn, it can feel like you’re completely swamped. Your hands are tied every payday as you funnel money into paying off debts, leaving you with no room to save. That’s why a lot of people turn to debt consolidation, which is when you use a loan to pay off all of your debt — and it can seem like a godsend.But wait, how is ANOTHER debt supposed to
