Articles by Madison


January 2008 Net Worth Update: -3.7%

Posted by Madison on February 4, 2008

Our portfolio declined by 3.7% for the month of January. The total percent increase since the beginning of our dollar plan is 1010.9%. Factors Since the total market was down in January, so is our portfolio as we use a total market approach to investing. As always, 2 plans in our portfolio have not reported results yet. I […]

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Groundhog Day Saves You Money

Posted by Madison on February 2, 2008

Today is a special day for a friend of mine. Instead of celebrating Valentine’s Day they go out for a special date for Groundhog Day. It’s a great idea to avoid the crowds and save some money since many of the restaurants raise their prices for the special Valentine’s Day menu. I hope the Groundhog announces spring […]

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Stay Home or Go Back to Work: The Results

Posted by Madison on February 1, 2008

I put together a comprehensive list of all the financial considerations to help determine what the impact would be if I stay home from work. Readers added the things I overlooked. It’s not a decision I’m making lightly. My husband and I have been discussing it at great lengths, sometimes in circles. Thanks for all […]

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Going Back to Work? More Considerations

Posted by Madison on January 31, 2008

I recently put together the financial considerations to help me decide if I should go back to work or stay home. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this… and not just in the last two days. It’s something I’ve been thinking about since I started my leave last fall. There’s so much to consider both financially […]

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Why We Have an Adjustable Rate Mortgage

Posted by Madison on January 30, 2008

We have an adjustable rate mortgage and it’s a good thing! Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) have been blamed recently for a lot of the housing troubles going on. However, adjustable rate mortgages do serve a purpose and meet the financial needs for some people, including us. We carefully selected the best product to match our financial […]

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Should I Stay Home or Go Back to Work?

Posted by Madison on January 29, 2008

Photography by Oslo In The Summertime I’m scheduled to return to work in a couple weeks after a 5 month maternity leave. As the date draws closer, I find myself questioning whether I want to stay home or go back to work. It’s a dilemma that many moms face, and I had the same questions […]

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Money Matters for All Ages: The Complete Guide

Posted by Madison on January 26, 2008

Sixteen personal finance writers put together an outstanding guide of finance material that spans a lifetime in the Money Matters for All Ages series. The entire series is also available to download in a free e-book. Here’s the highlights:





Economic Stimulus Intent Fails at Our House

Posted by Madison on January 25, 2008

Last week the President proposed a new economic stimulus package. It would be similar to the checks that were sent to taxpayers in 2001 to stimulate the economy.





Investment Snowflaking

Posted by Madison on

Debt snowflaking is a successful technique to get out of debt. In addition to the fixed amount that you have planned each month, you apply all the extra money you find to paydown your debt faster. It’s an extension of the snowball method and snowball calculator. Investment Snowflaking I didn’t want the investing crowd to be left […]

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IRS Agent Answers More Tax Questions

Posted by Madison on January 23, 2008

Last minute tax questions? Ask an IRS agent directly!