Cash (Not Credit) Rules Everything Around Me

We finally got the memo!  Cash is king, and credit cards put us in debt.  The New York Times recently reported that consumers are using their cash purchasing power instead of relying on credit cards this holiday season.  I’m right there with them.  As we noted, Black Friday (or any shopping for that matter) may [...]

Get It In Writing

I was upset to hear that Diddy/Sean Combs/P.Diddy/Puff allegedly stiffed a breast cancer awareness group from proceeds of a party Diddy/Sean Combs/P.Diddy/Puff was paid to host.   There is some confusion on whether the  fault lies with Diddy/Sean Combs/P.Diddy/Puff, the party promoter, or the club owner.  Regardless, this breast cancer awareness organization loses. According to BV Black Spin: Hip-hop [...]

Giving the Gift of Gift Cards…Hold Up a Minute

Gift cards are my go-to gift for children, teenagers, brides, and mothers-to-be.  Even more so after reading that we spend over $57 billion a year on unwanted gifts.  I think I’ve received at least a couple million dollars worth. So giving the gift of gift cards seems like the best option, right?  Right.  But there [...]

Black Friday Might Not Be For You…

We were having a little fun on Twitter yesterday noting the many reasons why you should not partake in the Black Friday shopping orgy.  And while many observations were said in jest, it is a way of speaking the truth.  Many of these admonitions are based on our own personal failings, mistakes, and lessons learned.  [...]

Check Your Mailbox for New Credit Card Rules and Fees

Fortunately, I’m holding a zero balance on my store credit cards. So I was curious when I received mail from the World Financial Network National Bank and HSBC. Both mailings were similarly written to alert me about new rules on my credit card accounts. First up, late fees. According to my statements, late fees can [...]

Annuities, Yeah…What Are Those Again?

In my (insert air quotes) financial portfolio, I have annuities.  I barely understand what they are.  I get it in the abstract, but not enough to explain it to anyone else. Fortunately, I have a great financial advisor that I trust so this lack of knowledge isn’t costing me money.  In fact, it’s making my [...]

Personal Finance Roundup

Several articles worth reading for getting your finances in order. Newsweek has a great article outlining the five signs that you’re headed for bankruptcy.  Those signs include using your credit cards for groceries and other housing expenses, not having health insurance, abusing a home equity line of credit, living paycheck to paycheck, and co-signing loans.   But [...]

Remember Layaway?

Remember when you actually had to put your school clothes in layaway in July and August so you could have enough time to pay it off before school started in September?  There was no instant gratification back in the day.  If you wanted that new purse or new outfit, you had to put more than [...]

Social Security: Not Enough to Retire On, Really Just Wine Money

About this time of the year, I get my annual letter from the Social Security Administration detailing how much (or little) my likely benefits will be once I meet retirement age. But to be clear, what the government gives, the government can take away. I guess that’s why there is this awkward disclaimer reminding us [...]

Adios, Overdraft Fees! (Well, Kinda)

Ever have $ 24.82 in your account and you write a check for $25.00?  Yes, the proverbial writing checks your …bank account… can’t cash.  That was me in college.  Not on purpose of course!  I was usually just hoping/wishing/praying that my paycheck would beat the check I had just written to the bank.  That didn’t work [...]

« Previous Page — Next Page »