We all remember savings bonds. Once a popular gift for young children, parents could secure the bonds knowing that they could cash them out in the future. At that time, savings bonds were typically purchased through an employer or a local financial institution. What made them particularly appealing was the ability to purchase a $50.00 savings bond for $25.00. The idea was to hold onto the bond until maturity, where the bond could be redeemed...
While no one expects to become disabled, 1 in 4 Americans do so prior to retirement age. An accident, an unforeseen medical event, a catastrophic injury can all lead to temporary or permanent disability. So, what happens when you suddenly find yourself unable to work? Most people turn to Social Security Disability. Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration offers limited disability benefits that are notoriously difficult to obtain. Difficulty aside, if you are lucky enough to...
If you’re five to 10 years away from retirement, it’s time to start getting specific about your plans after exiting your career.
If you don’t know the difference between asset-backed securities and securities, you may want to take a look at these common financial terms and their definitions. Asset Backed Securities Asset-backed securities are bonds or notes that are backed by assets such as credit card accounts receivable, auto loans, and home equity loans. Blue Chips Blue chips are well-established, well-recognized, financially stable companies. Blue Chip companies offer a variety of products and services, have been in...
If you’ve always dreamed of living abroad, now may be the best time. Today, there are around 400,000 American retirees residing outside the United States, with that number expected to grow over the next few years. Cost of living is often cited as one of the main reasons for the move. For example, in places like Mexico and Costa Rica, it’s possible to live off of a Social Security check, while enjoying a relaxing lifestyle...
While so much of personal finance is common sense – don’t spend more than you make, don’t buy a house you can’t afford, start to invest money while you’re young, many young people today enter the workforce fresh out of college, with a boatload of student loans, and with no clue how to properly manage their money. The truth is that many young adults struggle out of college, finding themselves further in debt in just...
At the end of the month, do you often find yourself with a lot less money than you expected? Do you have a hard time determining exactly what you spent your money on? Do you feel that you should have more to show for your hard work than you currently do? Are you and your spouse or partner always fighting about money? If any of these are true, you may want to consider creating a...
While some of us are spenders, others savers, most of us fall somewhere in between. Can you account for where your cash goes, or do you frequently find yourself wondering exactly where your money goes each month? The good news is that there are a lot of things you can do to save money starting today. Here are just a few of them. Decide what you’re saving for. It’s a lot easier to forego lunch...
While the name may be amusing the reality of zombie debt is anything but funny. Zombie debt is old debt that has been written off years ago, only to be sold to debt collectors for pennies on the dollar. In many cases, the debt is years old, and may not even be valid. Zombie debt collectors use a variety of scare tactics to intimidate consumers, trying to convince them to make even a small payment...
Giving money to philanthropic causes is important to many of us. Year end giving in particular is popular with both donors and charitable organizations. The most common way to give money for most people is to simply write a check or put a donation on a credit card. The charity then typically sends us a receipt for our donation, and everyone is happy. Not so fast. What about if we give a donation over $250.00...
It seems like we’ve been conditioned to shop since birth. While an occasional splurge is nothing to get worked up about, we’ve become incredibly wasteful in the process. Landfills from coast to coast are full of our discarded belongings such as furniture, equipment, appliances, and electronic items like computers and cellphones. We no longer repair an item, we simply replace it. Some of our spending habits can certainly be tied to the incessant marketing and...
If your kids are starting to enter the workforce, whether it’s a part-time job just for the summer or a full-time job after graduation, it’s essential they know how to practice healthy financial habits.
