I remember my first car, a 1969 Chevelle Malibu. It was blue with a black hardtop, three-speed on the column with vinyl bench seats – and a lot of problems under the hood. But I loved my “Blue Goose.” It was my first big purchase, my first “payment plan” to the Bank of Father, and my shout-out to … [Read more...] about How to decide whether to buy or lease your next car, or go car-free
Money
How to survive forced early retirement
When most workers plan for retirement, they expect to work until their full retirement age, which is 66 or 67 for people born after 1942, or even longer. But some workers find themselves out of a job at an age when it’s difficult to find another one – and at a time when they expected to be in … [Read more...] about How to survive forced early retirement
Thrifty ways to reuse old pantyhose
If you're like me, you have a drawer full of pantyhose with runs that you can only wear with slacks or boots. But there are lots more ways to recycle pantyhose, stockings and tights and save money in the bargain. All you need is a pair of scissors. Lint mitt: Use the foot part as a mitt, … [Read more...] about Thrifty ways to reuse old pantyhose
What to look for in a starter home
You’ve dreamed for years of buying your first home, and now it’s time. You’ve created Pinterest boards dotted with photos of beautiful home decor, watched all the episodes of HGTV’s “House Hunters” and spent hours trolling listings online. You know exactly what you want. But have you done … [Read more...] about What to look for in a starter home
How to teach your children to budget
We’ve all heard the horror stories: young people who graduate from college, move back home with their parents, make very little money and mishandle the cash they do earn. As many as 40 percent of millennials still receive financial help from their parents, according to 2015 statistics … [Read more...] about How to teach your children to budget
How to improve your credit score on the cheap
Have you ever felt like you have to have money to have a good credit score but you can only have a good credit score if you have money? This guest post by Sa El, co-founder of CreditKnocks.com, can help you navigate the line between earning good credit and having it. According to a white paper by … [Read more...] about How to improve your credit score on the cheap
Equifax data breach settlement: how to file a claim
Equifax Inc. has agreed to pay a minimum of $575 million as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the 50 states as well as the territories of the United States. If you were affected, you can file for your share of the … [Read more...] about Equifax data breach settlement: how to file a claim
10 things college students should learn about money
Heading off to college? Congratulations. You’ll be surprised that much of the learning you’ll do over the next four years has less to do with the classroom than with life. If you’re like many young adults, college is the first time you’ll keep your own schedule, plan your own meals, manage your … [Read more...] about 10 things college students should learn about money
How frugal are you? 25 things frugal people do
Many people choose to be frugal for different reasons. Maybe they were raised to live a frugal life, so it’s second nature to them. Perhaps they are consciously frugal and are saving to pay cash for a house, or they have a child about to head off to college. Maybe they simply don’t see any other … [Read more...] about How frugal are you? 25 things frugal people do
Great ways to save money on your vacation
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Planning a vacation? If you're anything like us, you're probably looking for ways to have a great time without spending a fortune. If you’ve booked a summer vacation, we hope you planned carefully, saved up enough money to pay for the whole trip and are now looking forward to leaving your cares … [Read more...] about Great ways to save money on your vacation
Used car shopping? Do your homework and avoid problems.
If you are in the market for a used car for yourself or a first car for your high-school or college student, you usually begin with a price range. But once you know how much you can spend, do your research on vehicle safety, average gas usage, and reliability. Here's a five-step plan to help you … [Read more...] about Used car shopping? Do your homework and avoid problems.
Easy ways to cut the cost of pet care
I hadn’t planned to get a new dog after my beloved Daphne died just short of her 15th birthday. However, I developed a bad habit of scrolling through the adorable faces of dogs up for adoption at my local Humane Society. As soon as I spotted Matilda and her huge ears, I had to jump in the car and … [Read more...] about Easy ways to cut the cost of pet care
