Michael on November 30th, 2007
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Although there’s plenty of discussion in the media this morning of possible assistance for some strapped home-buyers, debt will always suck your money away. Here are my favorite three reasons why.
1. Debt makes everything you buy cost more.
Ah, the joy of paying interest on previous purchases. You’ve grown to hate that particularly fun [...]

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Michael on November 28th, 2007
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Most employers now allow you to make changes to your 401(k) plans throughout the year. Still, annual enrollment is one of the precious few times people tend to review (even if briefly) their benefit decisions.
In addition, it’s also nearly the end of the year.
You: I knew there was a reason I read this blog. [...]

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Michael on November 26th, 2007
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I hope you had as wonderful a Thanksgiving holiday as I did. My immediate family spent much time with my extended family. As you can imagine, it’s always nice for my daughter to spend time with her grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. (From what I gather, they feel the same way). [...]

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Michael on November 19th, 2007
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One of the most overlooked benefits–particularly during the annual enrollment period–is disability insurance. With all the attention paid to health insurance and life insurance, disability insurance often gets the short end of the stick.
While this often surprises people, most folks do need disability insurance. In fact, long-term disability insurance is an important benefit [...]

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Michael on November 15th, 2007
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It’s that time of the year again.
You: The ides of November?
No. Annual enrollment.
You: Almost as exciting.
As employees with company-provided benefits may recall, you get just one shot a year to make changes to your benefit choices (barring a major life event.) Over the next few postings, I’ll address a few annual enrollment [...]

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Michael on November 14th, 2007
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I know it’s only Wednesday, but I recently discovered an online football game you can play–and test your money knowledge in the process. So for those of you who can barely make it until next Sunday or who simply want to assess the level of their financial education, play Financial Football.
Pssst: Turn down [...]

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Michael on November 12th, 2007
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Numerous articles discuss how expensive it is to raise children. Yet I have not seen any articles about the numerous ways children help you to save your money. In my short-time as a parent, here are some that I’ve discovered:

Your two-year old gets sick, you cancel your evening plans. Savings: babysitter, [...]

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Michael on November 9th, 2007
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With the current writer’s strike, there must be a few others out there hungry for a new Top 10 list. So, from the home office in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, here are the:
Top 10 Excuses For Not Saving
(followed by the reasons these excuses are lame)

I’ll save more later (when I make much more money).
But I [...]

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Michael on November 7th, 2007
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Last Sunday, we had stunningly beautiful weather in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. To take advantage, especially as we head into the long New England winter, my wife, daughter, and I took a long walk to a playground on the other side of town.
For several yeas before our daughter was born, my wife and I took [...]

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Michael on November 6th, 2007
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Many people, particularly young folks, think their paycheck to paycheck worries will go away once they make more money.
You: Dude, when I make what my boss makes, I promise you I won’t be living paycheck to paycheck.
I hope you’re right. But if that’s your only strategy for taking financial control, be careful.
You: Why?
Because there’s [...]

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