100 Cost-Effective Articles - Personal Finance
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Financing a Car
Many factors make up the search for the perfect new vehicle, including make, model, color, and price. In addition, the car shopping experience often begins with the question, "Should I buy or should I lease?" Depending on your answer, there may be a substantial difference in what you will get for what you can afford. In addition, if you decide to buy, rather than lease, you have the added consideration of how to arrange financing.
(820 words)
Money Management Tips for "Generation Xers"
Young adults in their twenties and early thirties—so-called "post boomers" or "Generation Xers"—face a variety of challenges in their quest for financial security. Some of these challenges are similar to those faced by previous generations, while others are unique to the times. If you are a Generation Xer, here are five financial tips to help you manage your money and plan for your future.
(628 words)
Trickling Cash Flow?
One of life's ongoing challenges is developing effective strategies for achieving your goals and wishes within the confines of your particular financial circumstances. Each stage of your life can create new financial challenges. Sending your child to college, remodeling your home, caring for an elderly relative, or starting your own business are objectives you may have at various points in your life. Even when your overall financial situation appears relatively secure, your available cash flow may be constrained. Should you be faced with such a dilemma, here are some alternative sources of cash that may assist you in financing your various life stage goals.
(760 words)
Ten Tips for a Solid Spending Plan
We all want more money. Many of us would also like to work less. While this may seem like a dilemma, there is a solution. The best way to increase money without increasing your hours is to avoid excess spending in the first place. Some people call this a budget, but you could just as easily call it a spending plan. Here are ten tips to help you maximize and stretch your hard-earned cash.
(727 words)
Dealing with Debt
Most everyone has, at some point in their lives, accumulated personal debt—some more than others. Whether debt is a cause for concern depends upon a number of factors, including: how the economy is functioning; your particular earning and economic prospects for the near and long term; and the type of debt you incur. By being conscious of your spending habits, including credit card use and large purchase habits, you can better understand ways to control debt—before it starts to control you.
(612 words)
Life Events and Your Finances
A solid financial plan can play a big role in building financial security for you and your loved ones. And yet, are you regularly reviewing your finances? Doing so becomes particularly important whenever you reach a new life stage. New additions in your life make reviewing your financial plans a necessity. You may need to give your finances extra consideration when you start a new career, get married, buy a house, have children, or retire.
(873 words)
Seven Steps to a Sound Financial Future
Today, many people find themselves bombarded by a constant stream of financial news from television, radio, and the Internet. Yet, does all this "information age" data really help you manage your finances any better than in the past? The truth often is that the "old-fashioned" practices, such as periodic financial reviews, lead to greater success in the long run. Why not spend a few hours reviewing your finances? The changes you make today could result in increased savings.
(708 words)
Be a Winner in the Savings "Game"
Like dieting, budgeting your expenses only works if there is a long-term commitment. However, human nature leads many of us to become frustrated when we can't immediately have the things we need or want. As a result, the best-laid budgeting plans can become ineffective. That's why adopting a "pay yourself first" attitude can have a positive impact on your long-term budgeting, spending, and saving practices. Following these simple steps can help you take control now and pave the way for a bright future.
(493 words)
Guidelines for Keeping Credit in Check
What can happen to your sense of value when your buying power has been increased? The alluring aspect of being able to buy on credit can become transformed into an expanded sense of value. In the process, it is easy to lose track of the relationship between price and value, and to end up paying more than we know an object is worth. It is this changed sense of value that is, perhaps, the most concerning aspect of credit card purchases. We simply lose our sense of what a good deal is all about and we become less smart about our shopping.
(805 words)
Maintain a Healthy Credit Report
Your credit report is an accumulation of information about your bills and loans, your repayment history, your available credit, and your outstanding debts. These reports are typically used by lenders when deciding whether or not to accept a loan or credit application. A healthy credit report can help you secure the funding you need to purchase a new home or car, fund a child’s education, or start your own business. Consider taking actions that can help you maintain a healthy credit report.
(766 words)
Shielding Your Finances from Disaster
Recent catastrophic events, ranging from natural disasters to terrorist attacks, have clearly demonstrated that the homes and livelihoods in which Americans have invested over many years can be wiped out in a matter of hours. Once displaced, many victims of disasters struggle to get back on their feet financially. While there is little you can do to prevent a disaster from striking, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from financial ruin should you be forced to evacuate your home in an emergency.
(812 words)
Are Two Incomes Better Than One?
As life presents us with changing challenges and opportunities, the idea of the "traditional" American family has also changed. The dual income family, with husband and wife each managing separate careers and contributing to the financial success of the household, has become commonplace. The biggest question remains "How will we save for our children’s education, plan for our own retirement, and, perhaps, help our aging parents deal with some of their financial burdens?"
(419 words)
Economic Challenges for Today’s Young Couples
For today’s young couples, the route to a secure future may be looking a lot different from the way it once appeared. Their incomes may be less certain compared to previous generations, and the demands on their financial resources are greater. By making informed financial decisions and choosing appropriate strategies today, they’ll be less likely to lose their way if they encounter personal and economic detours and setbacks tomorrow.
(501 words)
Changing Jobs: Fine Tune Your Financial Plan Starting a new job can be an exciting experience. But as you look forward to a new career challenge, you should consider carefully how you will manage your finances while making the transition from one employer to another. When you leave a job, your employer-provided benefits generally come to an end, unless you take action to have them continued. While you will likely receive benefits from your new employer, they may not be identical to the benefits your previous employer provided. Before leaving your job, consider how you will handle these changes.
(656 words)
Surviving the Loss of a Loved One
One of the most trying experiences in a person’s life is the loss of a loved one. During the grieving process, you may also feel stress associated with needing to make many important financial decisions. In order to feel secure, you need to know that your loved one’s affairs will be properly managed. You will make many serious decisions, which may have a lasting impact on your financial situation.
(850 words)
Determine Your Financial Staying Power
Some life transitions, such as a career change, are planned. Others, such as job loss or divorce, can be sudden and unexpected. One common thread running through all transitions is the insecurity of wondering whether you will have enough money to maintain your lifestyle. One way of dealing with this problem is to determine your financial staying power. By knowing how far down the road your financial resources will last, you can better concentrate on the task of accomplishing your transition goal.
(570 words)
Becoming a Financially Savvy Single Parent
Raising children without a partner is an enormous challenge—emotionally, physically, and especially financially. Overwhelmed by the work involved in earning a living and caring for children, single parents can sometimes feel they will never be able to break the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck. But even if you have a limited income, you may find that simply managing your money better can alleviate your financial problems and allow you to save for the future.
(709 words)