11 Tools Everyone Should Have + MORE

Does Paying Cash For A Car Make Me Crazy? – solvingthemoneypuzzle.com/ I drive a 2005 domestic sedan that is in good shape and has just under 100,000 kilometres on it.  It is in good  shape mechanically (I knocked on wood as I typed those words) and it’s only problem is the driver’s door.  The door freezes shut or open on really cold days.  On really cold days I just leave it shut and climb in through the passenger seat… Continue Reading On solvingthemoneypuzzle.com/ » The Best 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards – wisebread.com Updated March 2013 Those who live under a mountain of...

Save Money By Checking the Energy Star Ratings on New Appliances + MORE

Calvin February 2013 Net Worth – consumerismcommentary.com/ Naked With Cash is the year-long series on Consumerism Commentary where seven readers’ households share their financial progress on a monthly basis. I’ve partnered with financial planners who will offer some guidance along the way. Read this introduction to learn more about the series. Calvin is in his early 40s, earning a salary of $120,000 plus bonus as an IT project manager in New Jersey… Continue Reading On consumerismcommentary.com/ » What the Heck is the Alternative Minimum Tax? – moneyning.com/ Our country has a decades-long history of trying to make sure that high...

Avoid These 8 Tax Mistakes + MORE

Designer Checks Stinks – freemoneyfinance.com Before I get into this post I want to say one thing: Yes, I still use checks. Get over it. You all know that I use credit cards and have a debit card as well. So not all of my financial transactions are using instruments that were very popular in the 80’s. But I’m not going to give certain companies my bank account information for electronic payments — I simply don’t trust them… Continue Reading On freemoneyfinance.com » Avoiding credit card traps – getrichslowly.org/blog This is a guest post from John Ulzheimer. John is a...

Improving Your Career by Going Back to School + MORE

5 reasons to refinance your mortgage – getrichslowly.org/blog This post is from staff writer Holly Johnson. A few weeks ago, I wrote about how I refinanced my mortgage for the second time in a year. The second refinance wasn’t actually part of my master plan, but I ended up having to refinance in order to remove my private mortgage insurance. And although refinancing our home again proved to be a huge pain, we are now saving $135 per month by no longer paying private mortgage insurance premiums… 4 Things You Can Learn from Your Mortgage Statement – moneysmartlife.com Most of us, when...

7 Inexpensive Powerhouse Foods to Add to Your Diet for National Nutrition Month + MORE

Insurance: An easier way to comparison shop – getrichslowly.org/blog This post is from staff writer April Dykman. I had procrastinated until I could procrastinate no longer. I was in the middle of buying a house, and one of the many, many things on my ever-growing to-do list was to find a home insurance policy. My auto insurance policy also was up for renewal, and so I hoped to get a decent discount by buying both policies from one company… 3 Reasons You Should Blog – youngadultmoney.com/ I started Young Adult Money less than a year ago, but I’ve actually been...

Today’s Deals: Barbie, Tax Prep, and Kindle Fire + MORE

Negotiating for perks when raises are off the table – getrichslowly.org/blog This guest post is from David Lye. David is an expert on novated leasing, which is a “company car” type perk that many Australian companies offer their employees. In today’s uncertain economy, many employers are reluctant to offer raises to their employees. You may be lucky enough to keep your job, but chances are that you may not get a raise, or if you do, it could be a very small raise… Continue Reading On getrichslowly.org/blog » Overview of CPP Disability Benefits – canadianfinanceblog.com One of the scariest situations...

Spring means Spring Cleaning + MORE

Expert: The Economy Is Picking Up Steam – moneytalksnews.com JP Morgan economists Michael Feroli, Robert Mellman and Daniel Silver think the economic growth rate will hit 2.5 percent by Christmas, and that not even the sequester, higher gas prices, or the payroll tax hike will stop that.They told MarketWatch, ““If the consumer were down for the count, we’d have a different story… Continue Reading On moneytalksnews.com » How to Build a GIC Ladder – canadianfinanceblog.com Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GIC) provide a guaranteed form of income, provided you lend your money for a set amount of time. In return for the ability...

How to Choose the Perfect Gift + MORE

Persistence Can Pay Off When Dealing with Customer Service – canadianfinanceblog.com So last week I was struggling with Bell to get my phone unlocked. Eventually, after three phone calls with their customer service department, escalating to a Supervisor, and $84 later, I was finally able to unlock my phone. As I was now planning on switching phone providers, I researched my options, settled on a company that had fair pricing plans, a deal going on, and most importantly – no contracts… Continue Reading On canadianfinanceblog.com » 8 Questions About Your Money and Your Spouse 🙂 – budgetsaresexy.com/ Hidey-ho! Came across...

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 53-56 + MORE

Being Frugal Without Giving Up Your Social Life – wisebread.com Whenever I write a frugality post, I get comments asking some version of, “That’s fine if you’re happy being a hermit in your cheap apartment, but what about people who have friends?” (See also: Not Driving Your Less Frugal Friends Crazy) I think there are three general strategies for dealing with the issues around having a social life while still being frugal… Continue Reading On wisebread.com » The Average Net Worth For The Above Average Married Couple – financialsamurai.com One of the most popular posts on Financial Samurai with over...

Are You Buying When Investors Are Getting Greedy? + MORE

Cheap Health Insurance Options For The Unemployed, Self-Employed, Or Early Retiree – financialsamurai.com Restless in Warnemunde, 2012. Whether you are unemployed by choice or due to unfortunate circumstance, having health insurance is a must. According to The American Journal Of Medicine, 62% of all bankruptcies in 2007 were health related and that’s before the economic meltdown. What’s more frightening is that back in 2001, health related bankruptcies were “only” 45% of total… Continue Reading On financialsamurai.com » Learning About Investing With the Stock Market Game – consumerismcommentary.com/ In my mind, no child is too young to learn about the basic concepts...

Play hooky for money + MORE

February 2013 Goals and Finance Update – retireby40.org/ February Highlights and Lowlights 2013 Financial Goals: No progress in February. It’s a bit disappointing because we did so well in January by maxing out the IRA and setting up Mrs. RB40′s 401(k). 2013 Personal Goals: I tried several new beers in Feb. and met up with local bloggers for a drink… Continue Reading On retireby40.org/ » White House Supports Unlockable Cell Phones – moneytalksnews.com It recently became illegal to unlock your smartphone for use on another network without the current network’s permission. We covered it here.A petition to the White House...