Tip of the Week
YOU CAN DO IT! Ways to Save During Quarantine
I know! I know! You’ve tried it. You’ve heard them all. BUT have you?? There are ways to save in this unique time of quarantine. Read on… SET UP A BUDGET Your budget is your financial lifeline. List every income source you have: day job, benefits, part time, and odd jobs. Detail all your expenses,…
Read MoreRENT: What happens after evictions protections end?
If you live in a property covered by the CARES Act, the soonest landlords can ask you to leave is July 25, and the soonest they can file an eviction to force you to leave is August 24. THIS PART IS ESSENTIAL: The protections under the CARES Act only apply to properties that receive federal…
Read More10 Warning Signs of Too Much Debt
You spend more than 20 percent of your monthly take-home (net) income on consumer debt. (Credit cards, loans, etc.) You don’t know how much money you actually owe. You miss payments or pay them late. You have been refused credit. You have overdrawn your checking account more than three times in the past year. You…
Read MoreSavings. Do it now. It’s never too early…or too late.
No matter your stage of life, it’s important to have savings. Special purchase? Save. College education? Save. First home? Save. Retirement? Save. Emergency fund? SAVE. CREATE A BUDGET. You must evaluate how much money you take in and how much money you spend to take control of your financial life. List your income from all…
Read MoreStop the Cycle of Debt. Seriously.
SO you’ve paid off your debts. You’re FINALLY free! Now what? The WORST thing you could do it successfully pay down your card balances, only to find yourself in debt again months or years later. Change the way you handle your finances and they way you think about money in order to keep yourself out…
Read MoreID theft can happen to anyone
An acquaintance recently shared this story with me: Ken, I have read your articles on identity theft in the past and have taken many of the precautions you have suggested. I take a great deal of pride in knowing about all of the precautions, and said “it could never happen to me, I am too…
Read MoreSome deals are worth waffling on
August 1, 2010 Have you ever noticed how easy it is to rationalize your spending habits? There is nothing like something free, reduced, on sale or marked with a clearance sign to get the old shopping adrenalin going. I was walking through a store the other day, and as a good consumer, and following my…
Read MoreSaving is tough, but it can be done
Dear Ken: You keep talking about saving for emergencies. But my wife and I are having a hard time making ends meet. We know we should save, but it is almost impossible. Do you have any special tricks that might work? A: Saving in tough times, or for that matter, saving anytime is tough. There…
Read MoreHaving the 'money talk' with spouse
June is just around the corner, wedding bells are i n the air and I can “feel the love.” If there was one thing I could share with newlyweds, it would be that sometime between “Yes, I will marry you,” and “I do,” you need to have the “money talk.” Couples don’t fight over love.…
Read MoreForeclosure purchase not always a deal
Dear Ken: I read your column on buying a home. What do you think about buying a foreclosure home? Answer: There’s a myth that all foreclosures are deals because they can be purchased for pennies on the dollar. But not all foreclosures are deals and steals. Foreclosures often are purchased below market value, but the…
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