A recent Experian survey reports that more than one-third of people who divorced says it caused them financial ruin. And more than 60 percent of people surveyed said that money issues played a central role in the break up.
If you have spent more than three minutes watching broadcast television, you’re well aware that insurance companies are eager to get your business. But despite all those commercials, the reality is that many drivers aren’t shopping around for the best auto insurance deal.
I hope you have a fantastic July 4th, and that it includes some time to reflect on the principles of our democracy that are celebrated on this holiday. We have so much to be grateful for.
When you and your partner make the decision for one of you to be a stay-at-home parent, the tendency is to center all the financial decisions on the person who is still earning an income. Notice I didn’t say “the one who is still working.” Please. Being a stay at home parent is probably the hardest—and certainly the most important-work there is.
Given the looooong hours I know you put into your work, it seems obvious that you should get plenty of satisfaction from all that work. Yet according to Gallup less than one-third of workers are “involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace.”
I absolutely love my 7-class personal finance course, but I want to share a super short list of Must Dos and Don’ts for recent college grads.
Ladies, the jig is up. You can moan all you want about how you’re not “good” at investing, or it’s too confusing. I’ve long told you those are just excuses you have talked yourself into, yet that have no logical basis.
You know I am a big believer in the value of a college education. With one catch. The cost of obtaining a degree must be affordable for the student. Yes, the student. Parents are to focus on saving for retirement; I can’t endorse parents paying and borrowing for college if it means not saving enough for their retirement.
You know I believe there is no substitute for keeping an emergency fund in a federally insured bank or credit union account. That is the best—the only way—to ensure your “what if” money is always safe and will always be there for you. Yet I know how frustrating it has been to follow my safe—not—sorry advice since late 2008. That’s when the Federal Reserve pushed safe savings rates down to zero. The Fed’s move was focused to help the economy pull out of recession and then regain some positive momentum. But that was done at the cost of savers earning pretty much nothing.