Students know that college is expensive. After all — they’re the ones who’ll be making student loan payments after graduation. But one major cost that can often be overlooked when estimating the cost of a degree is textbooks. The College Board estimates that the average student spends more than $1,200 on textbooks every semester. To […]
One of the things I most often hear from people about personal finance is how much they wish they had learned about it when they were younger. In talking to younger people, I do see a lot of awareness about the importance of financial wellness. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of myths and generalities […]
Glenn Daily, age 65, may have found the golden goose. He’s sitting on a pot of cash that not only accrues interest; it can also be tapped tax-free. The New York-based fee-only insurance consultant has held onto an insurance policy that his parents first purchased for him when he was just 12 years old. Each […]
While I rarely advise buying a certain stock or making a money move just because an expert did, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can learn from the best minds in finance. Quite the contrary. With that in mind, here are seven of my favorite personal finance quotes of all time, how you can apply […]
Though many workers look forward to retirement, it can be a financially challenging period of life. Suddenly, there you are, moving from a steady paycheck to a limited income you might struggle to boost as needed. That’s why it pays to go into retirement with as little debt as possible. Unfortunately, a growing number of […]
Social Security, despite all its issues — and the real concerns about its future, barring action by Congress — has proven to be a hugely important program for older Americans. The average current retiree gets $1,411 per month from the program, or about one-third of his or her income. Furthermore, it’s also quite flexible, allowing […]
Technology doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are three ways to save money on electronics, cloud storage, and streaming movies and music. Refurbished and open-box deals: Save up to 50 percent on small appliances and electronics by buying certified refurbished items through manufacturers or authorized dealers. Returned or overstock items are often inspected, serviced, tested […]
Generation Xers don’t get a lot of attention. They tend to be overshadowed by their millennial or Generation Z children, and some are even willing to sacrifice their retirement savings in order to ensure that their children can get a college education without ending up buried in debt. Gen Xers are also known for having […]
It’s not uncommon for older adults to downsize or move to a new city in retirement. This can be an exciting time, but it can also be a challenging one, particularly if you plan to purchase a new home. Lenders are prohibited from discriminating against loan applicants based on age, but retirees still face greater […]
Sometimes one spouse wants to save and the other intends to spend. Money is the number one issue that married couples fight about, according to a survey of 1,072 U.S. adults by Ramsey Solutions. The happiest couples make financial plans together and discuss common goals. Couples in “happy” marriages are much more likely to have […]
When you visit a pediatrician, you know she graduated from medical school and completed additional specialized training. When you do business with a lawyer, you know he has a law degree. When you send your child to school, you are certain the teacher is state-certified and meets state-mandated continuing education requirements. So is the same […]
It is a well-documented fact that American workers are financially underprepared for retirement. For example, in a recent Government Accountability Office Report that examined the retirement savings of households in the 55 to 64 age group, researchers found that 55% of households had little to no retirement savings. Additionally, the remainder in that range that […]
