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• Tomorrow is often just another word for delay

  Posted Jun 12 2008, 07:03 AM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Retirement, Saving, Wise Bread, Emergency

  This post comes from Nora Dunn at partner blog Wise Bread.

  There is no tomorrow. Tomorrow is really a euphemism for "I can't think about that right now."

  Have you ever caught yourself saying these things?

  "Tomorrow, I get paid, and things will be easier."

  "Next week, I won't have so many meetings at work and can spend more time with my family."

  "Next month, I'll have paid off one of my credit cards, and then I will have money to save for retirement."   Read More...

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• A great guide to personal finance for all age groups

  Posted Jan 28 2008, 03:47 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Retirement, Credit, Saving, Emergency
  Rating:

  A group of personal-finance bloggers joined forces to produce a collection of valuable posts about managing money from infancy to the grave. You can find a synopsis of their work and links to each post by clicking here. From getting baby's first piggy bank to making retirement savings last, the excellent information contained in these posts addresses common questions -- both basic and beyond -- about money management.

  Madison at My Dollar Plan is first out of the gate with a guide for parents of infants. The first thing you must do, she says, is get your baby a Social Security number. She advises how to set up a 529 plan to save for your child's college education, and how relatives can do the same and get a tax break. This comprehensive post also covers topics like wills, taxes and insurance.   Read More...

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• 7 responsible ways to use your holiday bonus

  Posted Dec 18 2007, 06:11 AM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Debt, Retirement, Saving, Emergency

  This post comes from partner blog Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

  Earlier I wrote about seven irresponsible and fun ways to spend your holiday bonus, and now I’m going to throw a bone to the responsible crowd and list seven responsible things to do with your holiday bonus. I think everyone is a mix between the two (or at least I am). If you spend your entire bonus on fun things, you aren’t saving enough for the future. If you do responsible things with your bonus, you aren’t really enjoying the fruits of your labor. I think you need to find a nice happy medium without going overboard in either direction.

  Eliminate debt. Are you carrying high-interest credit card debt? Before you spend any of that bonus, put it toward your debt. Before you save for your retirement, pay down your debt. Paying down a credit card debt at 19.99% is like earning 19.99% on an investment (not exactly, but you get the idea), so pay down that credit card debt as soon as possible. Before you can build your personal-finance house, you need to firm up your foundation by getting rid of your debt.   Read More...

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