A standard claim is that people who watch less TV spend less on stuff they don’t need. I made the claim myself. But I started to wonder if that’s really true. How influenced are we by advertising? Do we spend more because of advertising or do we buy things we otherwise wouldn’t buy? Are consumers becoming immune …
In the last of my free personal finance software reviews, I checked out Wesabe. After testing Mint and Yodlee, I was expecting Wesabe to have more features. Instead, it’s the most stripped down of the three, at least as far as the personal finance features go. Wesabe is actually a combination of basic personal finance software and social networking. I can …
Online Personal Finance Software Reviews: Wesabe Read More »
For most of the summer, I’ve been eagerly following the story of Diana Nyad as she strives to achieve the goal she first conceived of over 30 years ago. It’s definitely been a struggle, and at this point, she may not achieve the goal this year, but we can learn a lot from her. Have a Big …
NPR’s Marketplace has been running a series called “Small Town Hall” where they talk to kids about money and financial issues. After watching several clips, I have to say, these are some really smart kids and I started to wonder who taught them these things. Then I wondered who should be responsible for teaching our …
Many people confuse money market accounts, money market mutual funds, and certificates of deposit. Although all three are considered the safe investments, they are not the same thing. Carefully consider all three before choosing the one that is right for you. In this post, I define each. Money Market Account A money market account, also …
Money Market Accounts, Money Markey Mutual Funds, and Certificates of Deposit Read More »
There has been a lot of talk about the anniversary of the financial collapse this week. Most of it has focused on either the reporters who covered the story or the financial systems that were in trouble. I’m going to get a little more personal and talk about how my life has changed in the …
Our Financial Status One Year after the Financial Collapse Read More »
At the beginning of January, I set new financial goals for 2009. These goals aren’t quite as grand as our 2008 goals, but they’re still an important step toward our financial future. Though it’s only been a month, we’ve made some progress on several of them: Goal 1: Buy a House We haven’t bought a house yet, …
In college economics, I learned about the stages of adoption of new technologies or ways or doing things. Marketers love innovators and early adopters, but does it make financial sense to be an early adopter every time? What are the pros and cons? What Are the Stage of Adoption? There are five stages of adoption: …
Should You Be an Innovator or a Laggard with New Products? Read More »
At the start of each year, my husband and I calculate our taxes for the year and adjust our withholding to get the lowest refund possible. That way we get to use more of our money during the year, rather than give the government an interest-free loan. Withholding Errors Do Happen My employer’s payroll company …
David at Money Under 30 is getting married. Congrats David! While preparing for their marriage, he and his fiancé wisely discussed their finances and chose to keep their spending accounts, emergency funds, and debt payments separate. While I can certainly understand the reasons behind wanting to keep pre-marriage debts and post-marriage finances separate, I don’t agree …
Should Couples Keep Their Money and Debts Separate? Read More »
