Browse by Tags

• Investing in yourself: Build self-confidence

  Posted May 01 2008, 09:11 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Investing, Family, Simple Dollar, Employment
  Rating:

  This post comes from Trent Hamm at partner blog The Simple Dollar.

  As I sit down to write about the value of investing in self-confidence, I keep picturing one of my closest friends. She's got a lot going for her, but she often finds reasons to think that she's a bad or unworthy person. She often doesn't have the self-confidence to step up and grab the ring, even though her talents have entitled her to it.   Read More...

  Discuss ( 2 comments) 1,671 Views Digg this | Email this | Link to this

• Financial independence: What it is and how to get there

  Posted Apr 25 2008, 08:04 AM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Investing, Retirement, Saving, Simple Dollar
  Rating:

  This post comes from Trent Hamm at partner blog The Simple Dollar.

  My big, overarching dream is to achieve true financial independence. By that, I mean that I have enough money saved and invested that I can live off the interest and investment income -- a point that I've discussed before as the crossover point.

  This is a huge goal, one that I won't achieve for many years no matter what path I choose. I dream about achieving this goal about the time my final child graduates from high school -- roughly 25 years from now.   Read More...

  Discuss ( 1 comments) 1,721 Views Digg this | Email this | Link to this

• Investing isn't just about money

  Posted Mar 21 2008, 06:06 AM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Investing, Family, Giving, Simple Dollar
  Rating:

  This post comes from Trent Hamm at partner blog The Simple Dollar.

  When I first sat down to write the "Investing in yourself" series, I was thinking mostly about financial investments -- how you can invest money in yourself in order to increase your earning potential. What the series actually pointed out to me is that investments take on a lot of forms, and you can often transform one type of investment into another.

  For example, take The Simple Dollar. For me, it's a money investment (hosting fees), a time investment, an intellectual investment and a bit of an emotional investment, too. What do I get out of it? I reap some financial rewards, increased knowledge and understanding (as a result of the research), improved writing skills, a network of acquaintances, and the wonderful feeling one gets from helping someone.

  Is it enough reward for the time investment? I believe it is, but it's probably not an exchange everyone would see value in.

  There are lots of ways to invest in something.   Read More...

  Discuss ( 1 comments) 506 Views Digg this | Email this | Link to this

• Preparing for and surviving an economic downturn

  Posted Jan 11 2008, 07:43 AM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Investing, Saving, Emergency, Simple Dollar
  Rating:

  This post comes from Trent Hamm at partner blog The Simple Dollar.

  Lots of people have written to me recently asking how I am preparing for an economic downturn. Take, for example, this e-mail from Arnold:

  A lot of major publications (The Economist being the biggest) have been predicting that the U.S. will have a recession this coming year. My question has to do with preparing and surviving during a time of recession. Also, another idea would be how to work with the dropping in value of the dollar.

  First of all, I think most mainstream articles on economic downturn are sensationalistic. For most people leading normal, everyday lives, a recession doesn't mean too much. Unemployment might rise some as companies trim fat. Stable companies don't fire good employees because of downturns.

  If you're worried about an economic downturn affecting your financial status in a significant fashion, consider the following scenarios, most of which have more to do with your own choices than the market:   Read More...

  Discuss ( 1 comments) 1,425 Views Digg this | Email this | Link to this