Category Archives: Money

Raising a family, paying for shoes, cars, college and retirement are all costly things in this day and age. Learn here how to plan properly and make the most of the money you have!

Paying For Identity Theft Protection

As stories of identity theft rise so does our concern over how to protect ourselves. Many people purchase identity theft protection services, but are they worth it? Not really when you think of what they don’t cover. For up to $189 per year you will not be protected against: *someone fraudulently filing tax returns in your name *account takeovers *misuse of credit or debit cards *prior instances of identity theft *the establishment of personal identity in your name That leaves a lot of things unprotected but even worse than that, most of the “services” they provide consumers can get for … Continue reading →

Can You Have Too Much Money?

What would you do with $500 million? I would freak out if I stumbled upon $500, and by $500 I mean $50. Heck, I’d probably shed a tear if someone randomly handed me 5 bucks. Needless to say, the idea of possessing half a billion dollars is mind-boggling to me. Yet, I’m not letting that stop me from trying to win the $500 million Mega Millions jackpot. Tomorrow night someone could become $500 million dollars richer if he or she is able to nab all five winning Mega Millions lottery numbers plus the all-important Mega Ball number. You have to … Continue reading →

Importance of a Safety Net

If you are a tight rope walker you know how important a safety net is, but everyone needs a safety net, not just circus performers. I’ve read time and again that everyone should have $500 in an emergency account. In the grand scheme of things $500 isn’t a lot of money, but when you are living paycheck to paycheck the amount may seem unreachable. I’ve learned lately how important that $500 is and how much it’s saved me in the long run. First, my dog needed surgery, it was $800 but that $500 sitting in the savings account sure helped … Continue reading →

Mortgage Relief

Owning a home is still the American dream, but for many of us, that dream is slowly turning into a nightmare. We are all feeling the pinch of this economy. When I bought my home the payment was completely affordable but in the past several years as I’ve had to take pay cuts in order to keep my job, it’s becoming more and more difficult to make that payment every month. It seems that everyone is struggling right now. I know there are people who over extended themselves, bought more house than they could afford and now a majority of … Continue reading →

Protecting Your Money

Yesterday I revealed my status as an identity theft survivor. My identity was ripped off nearly a decade ago, yet the sting is ever-present. A former colleague of mine was the perpetrator. Looking back, it was probably very easy for him to obtain access to my computer since we worked just a few cubicles down from each other. Hacking is just one of the ways thieves can gain access to your personal information and ultimately steal money from you. However, according to new reports, very few people realize that cybercrime is taking place, even after their sensitive information has been … Continue reading →

What Your Habits Teach Your Kids

I’m filling in for Sara for a few days and I have to say, I’m a little nervous. What do I know about money that I can share with you? Since most of my life is consumed with raising my daughter to be a good person, and that includes someone who is fiscally responsible, I’ll start with what we are teaching our kids about money, and what we should be teaching them. Are your bills in a pile on the counter? A pile that keeps getting bigger and bigger while you ignore it? Are your credit cards maxed out? Do … Continue reading →

Losing Money from Identity Theft

Here’s something many people don’t know about me: I was the victim of identity theft. It happened less than a decade ago by a guy I worked with. The FBI, as well as local police got involved because the incident crossed state lines. The guy’s motives were beyond sick and he ended up being tried and convicted. Fortunately, I didn’t lose too much financially, though I can’t say the same for the emotional toll it took, especially since I feared for my safety nearly every day after he was caught, arrested, and then freed on bail. According to an identity … Continue reading →

Just Say “No” to Credit Card Offers

Are you sick of getting credit card offers in the mail? More importantly, do you ever wonder how these companies are able to track you down in order to offer you a card that could potentially damaged your credit rating? Turns out credit card companies use target marketing techniques and services to keep their business going. In some cases, the method is blatant, such as individuals trying to get you to sign-up for the card on a college campus or near an outdoor Farmers’ Market. In other cases, like the offers that are sent via snail mail, credit card companies … Continue reading →

Dollar Store Budget Busters

I love a good sale; however, to save money when buying discounted merchandise, you really have to exercise self-control. Lack of self-restraint is one of the biggest reasons many people overspend when they are shopping at a sale, or even a Dollar Store. Or in my case, especially a Dollar Store. I challenge anyone to walk into a Dollar Store with the intent to purchase a single item and not leave with a basket full of other junk. I fail every.single.time. Why is it that I can’t go into that store to buy one can of rug cleaner and leave … Continue reading →

Tax Help for the Poor

Just because you didn’t make a ton of money last year doesn’t mean you don’t have to file taxes by April 17th. Of course, if you only garnered a few hundreds dollars, then you might be able to skip filing with Uncle Sam, but the majority of Americans, even the ones considered “low-income,” earned enough money to warrant submitting some type of tax form. The bright side to that not-so great news is that the Internal Revenue System offers free help to low income wage earners who need assistance with their taxes. One of the mot popular is the IRS … Continue reading →