It’s October 28th, and already there are holiday decorations in the stores.  Are you ready?  What happened to your wallet last year?  Did you spend more than you planned?  A few tips:

Think about non-cash gifts.  Does a family member need help more than a new sweater?  Give gift certificates for shoveling the driveway or shopping for […]

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My husband Joe and I are on vacation in Germany this week.  There’s a lot on the news here about “Energie Sparen” (saving energy).   With the price of oil near record highs, winter on its way, and the publicity about Al Gore’s winning the Nobel Peace Prize, it’s a subject on everyone’s mind.  Stacey and […]

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Here’s a link to the article:
http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-holiday-tips.php

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Stacey just sent me an article from the Wall Street Journal that talks about an increase in 401(k) loans.  401(k)s and their cousins, 403(b) and 457 plans, can offer loans to participants.  The cost of the loan is generally something like the prime rate plus a percentage or two.  Even better, the interest charged normally goes back […]

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For money you need quick access to - for emergency funds and other liquidity needs - you generally want the highest interest rate you can find with the least restrictions.  But since most savings accounts are taxable, your tax bracket should also be considered.  For people who are in high tax brackets or who live in areas […]

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Let’s say that you stop to buy a muffin at the health food store every morning on the way to work.  It’s a good muffin, and it costs $2.00.  If you buy that muffin 5 times per week, and 50 weeks per year, your annualized muffin cost (AMC) is $500.   How much would it cost […]

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