Tag Archives: family

Emergency Funds, Saving · August 17, 2016

Money Lessons Every Parent Needs To Teach This School Year:

It’s that time of year again: back to school. While I know there are legions of amazing teachers waiting to educate your kids, I need you to step up and do some important teaching that most schools drop the ball…

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Home Loans, Insurance, Saving · August 3, 2016

Avoid This Costly Refinancing Trap

In late July, the 3.4% average rate for a 30-year mortgage was near the historic low set in 2013. That’s great news for so many homeowners who were unable to refinance back in 2013 because they didn’t have the 20%…

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Student Loans · July 27, 2016

Teach Your Children Well-Part 4: Have the College Cost Conversation Early

I see parents let down their college bound kids all the time. Not because they can’t afford to foot the often insanely high bill for a four-year private college education, but because they don’t explain the family’s college finance reality…

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Credit Cards · July 20, 2016

Teach your Children Well-Part 3: Give Your Kid’s Credit

Young adults are making a big mistake with their finances. Survey after survey reports that most millennials do not have a credit card. I am wholeheartedly on board with preferring a debit card. But everyone needs to also have a…

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Saving, Student Loans · July 13, 2016

Teach Your Children Well-Part 2: Instill the Pleasure of Saving

You know your kids are sponges. So let me ask you a question: what lessons about saving are they absorbing from you? I can’t overstress the importance of instilling an appreciation for saving.

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Budgeting, Investing · July 6, 2016

Teach Your Children Well-Part 1: Bill Pay Together

Sitting down with your children once a month and having them help you pay the family bills is an incredibly valuable life-lesson opportunity that sadly few families use.

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Debt, Student Loans · June 29, 2016

A Taxing Reason to Not Buy a Home

There are two potentially large tax breaks that come with buying a home. But listen to me: I never think it is a good idea to factor in the tax breaks when deciding if you are ready to buy your…

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Budgeting · May 25, 2016

Why I Don’t Like Weddings

Weddings bring out the worst in our bad-money habits. I have known too many couples that have gone into credit card debt to pay for a wedding. Love doesn’t mean paying 15% interest-or more!-for a special day. And I have…

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Investing, IRAs/401(k)s, Stocks/Bonds/ETFs · May 18, 2016

4 Ways to Save on a Wedding

I am on the record that only couples in great financial shape should spend money on an expensive/large wedding. But for those of you who are just going to plow ahead despite shaky finances, please at least make the most…

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