I’ve always used Microsoft Money. Why? Because it came installed on my computer back in 1997, when I started tracking my money really closely. Even since then, I’ve just continued with it. Good reason, right? MS Money Stops Yearly Updates I felt pretty confident with my setup until one of my fellow About.com guides, Shelley, […]
It had to happen… I’ve had a pretty sweet deal come to an end. For a few years, I’ve had a Chase card that earned 5% back on gas, groceries, and drugstores. I didn’t talk about it much, since you can’t apply for it anymore, so there wasn’t much point. I got a letter that […]
There is so much going on this week! Lending Club is open again (which is great since I have $300 in my Lending Club account after winning the PF Challenge) and Prosper is entering a quiet period to add a secondary lending market. In addition, Grocery Game notified me that chicken was at a rock-bottom […]
Time for some reader input! Here’s a question from Jaynee. She and her husband have been doing a great job saving money for their kids. They diligently put gifts the kids receive into their savings accounts. However, now that the balances are growing, she knows a savings account isn’t the best place for the money […]
Three months ago you worked on your Mid Year Checkup. How time flies! Another quarter later, and it’s time to prepare your finances for fall. Here’s 15 more tips to get your finances in shape: 1. File your taxes. What? Didn’t we do that back in April? Not so if you got an extension. Your […]
We joined Costco! And we went there 5 times in 8 days! Here’s the catch with Costco, if you pay with credit, you need to use an American Express card. Lucky for me I keep a stash of credit cards handy for “emergencies” like this! Why does it matter which card I use? Because I […]
Our portfolio decreased -5.6% in September, bringing us to 862% total increase since the beginning of our dollar plan. In addition, our year-to-date total decrease is -16.9%. Reflections on my portfolio this month September was tough, just like most of 2008. However, instead of looking at the gigantic losses, it helps to focus on the […]
We joined Costco. And I’ve only been there 5 times in 8 days! Thanks for all your suggestions; we knew exactly what to look for. Now I just need to get my True Earnings Credit Card for Costco and I’ll be all set. Also on my checklist for today is tuning my TiVo for a […]
Tax breaks, savings credits, and fabulous graphs of the Presidential tax plans are all the rage, but I think the root cause of the money management problem in our country is the complete lack of financial education. Our schools don’t teach a comprehensive financial program (or anything in most schools), and many parents don’t teach […]
As you work to build your net worth, protecting your nest egg is a critical part of your total financial picture. While we often view car insurance as being able to fix or replace our own damaged vehicle, even more important is protecting your other assets in the event of a large liability lawsuit. Of […]
