A friend sent me an email that said, “I use Mint.com and see that food is a big portion of my monthly spending. How do I fix it?†He proceeded to list six ways that food affects his budget. While food does have a rather large impact on almost any budget, it doesn’t have to […]
Insurance companies are just that: companies. They are money-making enterprises that provide a service to the majority of Americans. However, some people are just too high risk for them to insure and still be able to make a profit. High Risk customers may have been categorized as such because they have a pre-existing health condition, […]
8 Best Personal Finance Apps for Android
Posted byAfter my husband got his new Android phone, the HTC Hero, the first thing I had to check out were the Android apps for money management. He finally gets to upgrade, courtesy of the new sero premium from Sprint. I downloaded every financial android app I could find and narrowed it down to my favorites. […]
Target 5% Discount Credit Card
Posted byWe all know that cash rewards credit cards are a fantastic way to get free money without much effort. And now one of my favorite retailers, is jumping on the 5% bandwagon. Starting in two weeks, Target will offer a 5% discount for purchases made on their Target credit card. How to Get Your 5% […]
In just a short month we’re going to be kicking off year number four at My Dollar Plan! It’s been an incredible journey, and I couldn’t have done it without the best readers in the world. Thanks, everyone! I thought it would be fun to celebrate with the My Dollar Plan readers, Oprah style. You […]
7 Frugal Moving Tips
Posted byI just moved into a new, much smaller apartment and learned some major lessons about what (not) to do! My move was extra hectic thanks to three trips in the three weeks leading up to the big move…including one that ended less than 72 hours before my movers arrived! I’m passing some of my hardest-learned […]
If there’s one upside to the economic mess we’ve been in for literally years now, it’s that interest rates are near an all-time low. If you’re keeping cash in a high-interest savings account, you probably wish rates would go up. But for people looking to finance a house, car, education or other major purchase, you […]
Some of my favorite cash rewards credit cards now offer cash back on a rotating quarterly schedule. Since we’re winding down 3rd quarter, it’s time to do our planning to maximize your cash rewards for fourth quarter (and holiday spending!) to make sure we’re carrying the right cards and know where to use them. Happy […]
Will You Pay for College for Your Kids?
Posted byLately, I’ve been working on planning for college expenses for our three kids (ages 1, 3, and 4). We stopped contributing to their 529 plans a few years ago, as I felt they were fully funded. Now, I’m working on optimizing the investments and planning for all the tax impacts and strategies. At this point […]
Prepare for the Holidays…Today
Posted byIf you get paid twice per month, there are only 7 paydays left until Christmas! Last year, we shared some ways to prepare for holiday spending. This year, I’m hoping to get started (and finished) even earlier. Here are 5 things I’m doing to smooth out holiday spending and usher in December with low stress […]