Seven Practical Gift Ideas for the Indebted College Graduate
Google “gift ideas for college graduates” and you’ll find a dizzying array of tchotchkes whose sole purpose is to impress or entertain. Buzzfeed, for example, offers gift ideas ranging from a...
View ArticleWhy I Only Grow Four Things in My Garden
While I have wanted a summer garden for what seems like forever, I never made the time to build one until we moved into our current home four years ago. That first year, I was insanely pumped for all...
View ArticleHow to Choose the Best Health Savings Account
Ever since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Americans have shown a renewed interest in health savings accounts, or HSAs. These versatile, tax-advantaged savings...
View ArticleSeven Reasons to Love the House You Have
With spring in full swing and summer on its way, people are busy sprucing up their home’s outdoor areas. Perhaps you’ve cleaned out your garage, laid down some mulch, or attempted to repair winter...
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19 Things I Always Buy at the Dollar Store
While everyone has their own savings strategies when it comes to groceries and household goods, I tend to take the easy route. Instead of driving from store to store to snag deals, I do almost all of...
View ArticleGive Your Home an Outdoor Makeover on the Cheap
If you believe everything you read in the Lowe’s or Home Depot mailer, you probably think you need a new grill, decorative stones leading to your glamorous garden shed, and protective paint on the...
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Here’s My Secret to Saving Money on Quality Clothes
While I was once willing to do just about anything to save money, I’ve learned that some savings strategies work better than others over time. For example, buying the “cheapest” small appliances...
View ArticleFive Ways Your Camping Budget Can Go Up in Flames
Camping, in its rawest form, is one of the most frugal vacation options in the world. All you really need is a tent (or some other shelter), something to sleep in or on, basic supplies for cooking and...
View ArticleBeware the Shady Financial Advisor
In late 2016, I achieved a writing milestone I was particularly proud of: I secured my own column in my state’s biggest newspaper, the Indianapolis Star. Every few weeks, they’d let me crank out a...
View ArticleThe DOL Fiduciary Rule: What Does It Mean for Your Money?
When you hire a financial advisor to help you manage your money, they’re recommending the best investments to help you achieve your financial goals, right? Well, not always, and that’s one reason for...
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Three Times Travel Deals Are Actually More Expensive
The internet is a treasure trove if you’re looking for travel deals that can help you save on your next trip. Want to travel for free? Numerous websites, including this one, can help you navigate the...
View ArticleWhen You Can’t Afford to Be a Bridesmaid
Several years ago, Sylvia Inks was caught in an uncomfortable dilemma. A childhood friend asked her to be the maid of honor at her wedding, but Inks doubted whether she could – or even should –...
View ArticleWhy Women Should Embrace Their Breadwinning Status (and Stop Complaining...
A few weeks ago, I was sucked into a rabbit hole of the worst kind – an article (and comments section) that piqued my interest in the most consuming way possible. A post about Conflicted Millennial...
View ArticleHome Buyers, Beware: Wire Fraud Is on the Rise
Imagine you’re getting ready to close on your first home. You receive the closing paperwork and take special care to ensure all the details are correct. But, on the way to the bank, something funny...
View ArticleFive Ways to Save on Your Summer RV Rental
Summertime is perfect for packing up the family and hitting the open road. And whether you want to camp or simply travel in style, renting an RV (recreational vehicle) adds features to a vacation that...
View ArticleHow to Deal With Huge Medical Bills
A report from the American Journal of Medicine shared some sad statistics about the state of American medical care and medical bankruptcies: A 2009 study revealed that 62.1% of U.S. bankruptcies had a...
View ArticleWhy I Finally Broke Down and Bought Travel Insurance
When you travel as often as I do, you get used to unexpected expenses throwing your budget out of whack. You can plan ahead all you want, but when your kid needs an $8 pack of children’s Tylenol from...
View ArticleShould You Use Plastiq to Pay Your Mortgage and Other Bills With a Credit Card?
If you love credit card rewards and spend your free time pursuing points and miles, you already know the secret to outsized rewards: The more bills you can charge to your rewards credit card (and pay...
View ArticleWhy I Quit Caring About My Credit Score
If you believe everything you read about your credit score, you’d think it was the most important component of your financial health. Without a good credit score and history, the experts say, it’s more...
View ArticleNine Money Mistakes New Retirees Can’t Stop Making
If you’re on the fast track to retirement, you’re probably busy planning your new, post-work world. Perhaps you’re considering a stint as a volunteer, or ready to sit back and do nothing for a while....
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